What did pending home sales look like in September 2026?
A recent rise in mortgage interest rates could be slowing, opening doors into the housing market for more homebuyers even as sales slowed in September, a report released today by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) suggested.
September saw a 7.3% month-over-month decrease in pending home sales across all regions tracked by the NAR, while year-over-year data saw an overall 11.3% decrease in those same regions.
“Market conditions weakened in September due to fast-rising mortgage rates,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. “Although job growth and income gains can support home purchases, housing affordability is more affected by changes in mortgage rates.”
However, Yun sees the rising mortgage rates slowing down soon. “Given that mortgage rates have already risen much more than the Federal Reserve’s short-term interest rate hikes, mortgage rates could be topping out.”
A cooling off in mortgage rates could make homeownership more affordable to many potential buyers and may be reflected in a rise in pending home sales.
Pending home sales are indicators of the direction of the housing market in general based on purchase contracts signed for homes for sale.
Which regions showed changes in pending home sales?
All four regions that the NAR tracks in the U.S. showed decreases in pending sales in September from the previous month, with all regions also showing a decrease in pending home sales compared to the same time last year.
- The Northeast saw a decrease in pending home sales from the previous month at 4.3% and a 9.4% drop from a year ago.
- Signed contracts in the Midwest dropped 6.5% from August and dipped 8.7% from September 2025.
- Pending sales in the South dropped 8.2% from the previous month and lowered 12% from the same time last year.
- The West experienced a 9.2% decrease in pending home sales from last month and a 15% decrease from last year.
Mortgage interest rates earlier this year hit a three-year low, then hit a one-month low in June and have been on a slow rise since. However, seasoned homebuyers know that you purchase the home, not the mortgage rate, so finding the right home should be the most important factor. Homeowners can always change their mortgage rate with a refinance when rates drop further.
Did mortgage rates show any change?
According to data from Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.4% as of Oct. 15*. That’s no change from one week ago but up a bit from 6.27% one year ago.
The cooler months of fall and winter tend to see fewer potential buyers in the market, typically allowing those shopping at that time more negotiating power. The warmer summer months tend to see a larger number of homes on the market, giving those looking to purchase homes more to choose from.
Are you ready to start the homebuying process? Start by applying for a mortgage pre-approval and begin your journey toward your dream home with Guaranteed Rate Affinity! A pre-approval shows sellers and real estate agents that you’re serious and gives you an idea of how much of a mortgage you’re likely to be approved for.
*National average rates from Freddie Mac as of Oct. 15, 2026, are not advertised rates from Guaranteed Rate Affinity.