NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows 3.2% Increase in May
National Association of REALTORS® • • business
Key Points:
- Existing-home sales rose by 3.2% both month-over-month and year-over-year in May 2026, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million, marking the highest level since December.
- Home sales increased in the Northeast, Midwest, and South regions month-over-month, while year-over-year sales grew in the Midwest, South, and West but declined in the Northeast.
- The median existing-home price reached $429,300, up 1.3% from the previous year, continuing a 35-month streak of year-over-year price increases, with affordability improving nationwide.
- Inventory rose slightly to 1.55 million units, maintaining a 4.5-month supply of unsold homes, and mortgage rates averaged 6.44%, down from a year ago but up from the previous month.
- The report highlights strong homeowner financial stability, with distressed sales accounting for only 1% of transactions, and notes that increased home sales stimulate broader economic activity in related sectors.