US Existing Home Sales December 2026
December 9 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
US Existing Home Sales December 2026
Next US Existing Home Sales: Wednesday, at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London). Covers November 2026 data.
- Consensus
- A consensus forecast has not yet bee…
- Prior
- Not yet confirmed from the official …
- Actual
- Pending
Full schedule and background: US Existing Home Sales.
Updated
The US Existing Home Sales report for November 2026 data is released on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London) by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The report measures the pace at which previously owned homes changed hands during the month, and it is one of the two main gauges of US housing market activity alongside new home sales. Full schedule and background: US Existing Home Sales.
What is existing home sales?
Existing home sales tracks the number of previously owned single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops that closed during the reporting month, expressed as a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Because the figure counts closings rather than new contracts, it reflects buying decisions made roughly one to two months earlier, when the mortgage rate at the time of the offer was locked in.
The NAR compiles the data from a survey of multiple listing services and brokers around the country. Alongside the headline sales pace, the report includes median sale price, months of supply, the share of cash buyers, and regional breakdowns for the Northeast, Midwest, South and West. Because roughly 90% of all US home sales are existing homes rather than new construction, this release is the primary window into the health of the housing market.
Investors and central bankers watch it because housing is highly sensitive to interest rates and because the sector influences consumer spending through wealth effects, home renovation activity and the pace of household formation. A sustained slowdown in sales can signal that higher mortgage rates are squeezing affordability, while a pickup can suggest buyers are adjusting to a new rate environment.
When is the November existing home sales report released?
The National Association of Realtors publishes the November 2026 existing home sales figures on December 9, 2026 at 10:00 am ET, which is 3:00 pm in London. The release is published on the NAR’s own website and distributed to newswires simultaneously. This date has been confirmed by the NAR’s release calendar and is not an estimate.
What is the consensus forecast?
At the time of writing, a consensus forecast from a major poll such as Reuters or Bloomberg for the November 2026 reading has not yet been published, and the prior month’s confirmed sales pace has not been verified against the NAR’s own release for this article. Readers should check the NAR’s official release or a live consensus tracker such as Investing.com or Trading Economics closer to the release date for the most current prior figure and survey median, since these can shift materially as the release date approaches.
| Measure | Prior | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Existing home sales (SAAR) | To be confirmed from the October 2026 NAR release | Not yet published |
| Median existing home price | To be confirmed from the October 2026 NAR release | Not yet published |
What the result could mean
| Scenario | Likely market read | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Above consensus | Could be read as a sign the housing market is stabilising or improving despite elevated mortgage rates, which some analysts suggest may reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut rates quickly | More people are successfully buying and selling homes than expected, which can support related spending on furniture, renovations and moving services |
| In line | Likely to have limited market impact since the figure was already priced in by traders | The housing market is behaving broadly as expected, offering no major surprise to buyers, sellers or renters |
| Below consensus | May be interpreted as evidence that high borrowing costs continue to weigh on the market, which some economists argue strengthens the case for future rate cuts | Fewer homes are changing hands than expected, which can signal that affordability pressures are holding back both buyers and sellers |
These are possible interpretations discussed by market commentators, not predictions of how markets will actually move on the day.
Why does this release matter right now?
Housing has remained one of the most interest-rate-sensitive parts of the US economy through 2026, with 30-year fixed mortgage rates staying well above the historic lows seen earlier in the decade. The Federal Reserve continues to monitor housing data closely as part of its broader assessment of financial conditions and the labour market, since construction, real estate services and related retail spending make up a meaningful share of US economic activity. A run of weak existing home sales prints earlier in the year has kept the sector under scrutiny, and any further deterioration or improvement in November’s figures will feed into the debate over the path of interest rates into 2027.
Globally, the release also matters because US mortgage and housing trends often mirror pressures seen in the UK and euro area, where central banks have likewise grappled with the effect of higher rates on property markets. A weaker-than-expected US reading can reinforce expectations that major central banks, including the Bank of England and European Central Bank, may need to stay cautious about how quickly they ease policy.
What It Means for Your Money
- Mortgages and rates: A stronger-than-expected sales figure can nudge US Treasury yields and mortgage rates higher if it suggests the economy remains resilient, while a weak print can support the case for lower rates over time, indirectly affecting mortgage pricing in the UK and eurozone through global bond market linkages.
- Savings: Changes in the interest rate outlook driven by housing data can influence what savings accounts and fixed-term deposits pay, since banks price savings products off the same rate expectations that move mortgage costs.
- Jobs and wages: A healthy housing market supports employment in real estate, construction, home improvement and retail, so a sustained slowdown in sales can eventually show up in slower job growth in these sectors.
- Prices: Median home price trends reported alongside the sales figure give a read on housing costs, one of the larger components of household budgets and inflation measures in the US.
- Investments, pensions and currencies: Housing-linked stocks such as homebuilders and real estate investment trusts often react directly to the release, and shifts in US rate expectations can move the dollar against the pound and euro, affecting the value of overseas investments and pension holdings with US exposure.
Related events
- Previous release: US Existing Home Sales, November 2026 data
- US New Home Sales, the companion report covering newly built housing
- Federal Reserve interest rate decisions, which shape mortgage rates and housing demand
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the November existing home sales report released?
The National Association of Realtors publishes the data at 10:00 am ET, which is 3:00 pm in London, on December 9, 2026.
How should I read the existing home sales figure?
Look at the seasonally adjusted annual rate against the prior month and against the consensus forecast, and check the accompanying median price and months of supply for a fuller picture of market conditions.
How does this data affect interest rates?
The Federal Reserve considers housing market strength as part of its broader assessment of the economy, so persistently weak or strong readings can feed into expectations for future rate decisions, though housing data alone rarely drives policy on its own.
Where can I find the official release?
The National Association of Realtors publishes the full report, including regional breakdowns and price data, on its own website at the scheduled release time.
When is the next existing home sales report?
The NAR typically publishes existing home sales data around the 20th to 25th of the month for two months prior, though the November data covered here follows an adjusted December publication date; check the NAR calendar for the exact date of the following release.