U.S. Existing Home Sales Rose 5.1% in December; Northeast Sales Posted 2% Increase in Deals Last Month
Real Estate In-Depth • January 15, 2026
WASHINGTON—Existing-home sales increased by 5.1% in December, according to a report released today by the National Association of Realtors.
Month-over-month sales increased in all regions. Year-over-year sales increased in the South, remained flat in the Midwest and West, and decreased in the Northeast.
“2025 was another tough year for homebuyers, marked by record-high home prices and historically low home sales,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “However, in the fourth quarter, conditions began improving, with lower mortgage rates and slower home price growth. December home sales, after adjusting for seasonal factors, were the strongest in nearly three years. The gains were broad-based, with all four major regions improving from the prior month.”
“Inventory levels remain tight,” Yun added. “With fewer sellers feeling eager to move, homeowners are taking their time deciding when to list or delist their homes. Similar to past years, more inventory is expected to come to market beginning in February.”
National Snapshot
Total Existing-Home Sales for December
- 5.1% increase in existing-home sales month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million.
- 1.4% increase in sales year over year.
Inventory in December
- 1.18 million units: Total housing inventory was down 18.1% from November and up 3.5% from December 2024 (1.14 million).
- 3.3-month supply of unsold inventory, down from 4.2 months in November and up from 3.2 months in December 2024.
Median Sales Price in December
- $405,400: Median existing-home price for all housing types, up 0.4% from one year ago ($403,700)—the 30th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
Mortgage Rates
- 6.19%: The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in December, according to Freddie Mac, down from 6.24% in November and 6.72% one year ago.
Single-Family and Condo/Co-op Sales
Single-Family Homes in December
- 5.1% increase in sales month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.95 million, up 1.8% from December 2024.
- $409,500: Median home price in December, up 0.2% from last year.
Condominiums and Co-ops in December
- 5.3% increase in sales month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 400,000, down 2.4% from last year.
- $364,400: Median price, up 1.5% from December 2024.
Regional Snapshot
Northeast
- 2.0% increase in sales month-over-month to an annual rate of 520,000, down 1.9% year over year.
- $496,700: Median price, up 3.7% from December 2024.
Midwest
- 2.0% increase in sales month-over-month to an annual rate of 1 million, unchanged year over year.
- $306,000: Median price, up 3.1% from December 2024.
South
- 6.9% increase in sales month-over-month to an annual rate of 2.02 million, up 3.6% year over year.
- $360,200: Median price, down 0.3% from December 2024.
West
- 6.6% increase in sales month-over-month for an annual rate of 810,000, unchanged year over year.
- $605,600: Median price, down 1.4% from December 2024.
Approximately 123,000 households rely on Section 8 vouchers to help pay rent, and the program remains a central tool for addressing housing affordability and homelessness.
If demand picks up notably in the coming months and outpaces supply growth, home prices will inevitably rise.
“HGAR will continue to advocate for policies that promote housing opportunity, protect property rights, and support a fair, transparent, and functional housing market for everyone.”
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Single-family home sales, the region’s largest segment, fell 7.1% to 2,565, while median prices rose 4.7% to $748,500.
