What did pending home sales look like in October 2025?
Pending home sales across the nation showed a 1.9% increase in October compared to September, according to a report released today from the National Association of REALTORS®. It’s a shift that could mean potential homebuyers are already starting to take advantage of the perks of shopping for a home during the cooler months.
"Days on the market typically lengthen from November through February, providing better negotiating power to buyers during the holiday season,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said.
When compared to the previous month there was an increase in pending home sales across the nation, but pending home sales did see a slight drop of 0.4% compared to last year.
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?
Three of the four regions the NAR tracks in the U.S. showed increases in pending sales in October from the previous month, with two regions showing an increase in pending home sales compared to the same time last year.
- Pending sales in the Midwest rose 5.3% from September and increased 0.9% from the same time last year.
- Signed contracts in the South grew 1.4% from the previous month, up 2.0% from October 2024.
- The Northeast experienced a 2.3% increase in pending home sales from last month and 1% decrease from last year.
- The West saw a decrease of 1.5% in pending home sales from the previous month and dropped 7.0% from a year ago.
Pricing appears to have been factors in certain regions, Yun indicated. "The Midwest shined above other regions due to better affordability, while contract signings retreated in the more expensive West region."
Did mortgage rates show any change?
According to data from Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.26% as of Nov. 20*. That’s up from 6.24% one week ago but down considerably from 6.84% one year ago.
The cooler months of fall and winter tend to see fewer potential buyers in the market, typically giving those shopping during this time more negotiating power. If you are looking for a deal, now may be the time to consider joining the housing market.
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* National average rates from Freddie Mac as of Nov. 20, 2025, are not advertised rates from Guaranteed Rate Affinity.
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