Existing-Home Sales Today: What to Watch in the NAR Report

Today's Existing-Home Sales Report: The Four Numbers That Will Tell the Story

Quick answer: The National Association of Realtors publishes September existing-home sales today at 10 a.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. in India). Economists polled expect about 3.96 million at a seasonally adjusted annual pace, a touch below August's 3.98 million.

What did August look like?

Sales fell 2% in August to a 3.98 million pace, the first reading under 4 million since June 2025. Inventory rose to 1.62 million homes, and the supply of homes reached 4.9 months, which NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said is the highest in more than ten years. The median price was $429,100, up 1.6% from a year earlier, the 38th straight annual gain. Sales were still up 1.6% for the first eight months of the year.

The four numbers to watch today

1. The sales pace: does it hold near 3.96 million or slip lower?

2. Months of supply: another reading near or above 4.9 would confirm a buyer-friendly market

3. The median price: will the run of annual gains reach 39 months?

4. Inventory: whether it stays above 1.6 million, a level not seen since November 2019 until last month

 

Why this report may look "old"

A home sale closes weeks after the contract is signed, so September's closings were largely set before mortgage rates climbed further in October. Freddie Mac's 30-year rate was 6.66% at the end of August and 7.40% on October 8. The sharper effect of those rates would show up in later months. The pending home sales report for September, which tracks new contracts, is due on October 20.

What it means for you

If you are buying, a long runway of listings and slow sales usually means more room to negotiate. If you are selling, price carefully, because buyers have choices.