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Home asking prices have dipped in the past year
WCVB • • business
Key Points:
- The median asking price for U.S. homes in August 2026 was $424,500, reflecting a more than 60% increase from $255,265 a decade ago, though this rise adjusts to about 20% when accounting for inflation.
- Compared to August 2025, the national median listing price declined by 1.28%, indicating a slowdown in price increases and more realistic pricing strategies by sellers.
- Asking prices fell year-over-year in three of four U.S. regions—Northeast (-3.6%), South (-2.6%), and West (-2.1%)—while remaining flat in the Midwest.
- At the metro level, 36 of the top 50 markets saw a decline in median list price per square foot, with significant drops in cities like Austin (10% decline), Denver, and Los Angeles as pandemic-driven price surges ease.
- Despite the downward trend, median asking prices remain elevated, maintaining affordability challenges as a primary concern in the current housing market.
