Existing Home Sales Edge Up 1.5% in September to 3.99 Million Annual Rate
By TopHolding Editorial · Monday, October 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Existing home sales saw a modest increase of 1.5% in September, reaching an annual rate of 3.99 million, surpassing consensus expectations. This rise was primarily driven by single-family homes, despite a decline in the median price of an existing home.
According to Brian S. Wesbury, Chief Economist, and Robert Stein, CFA, Deputy Chief Economist at First Trust Portfolios, existing home sales increased by 1.5% in September to a 3.990 million annual rate, exceeding consensus expectations. Sales, however, are down 2.2% compared to a year ago. The report indicates that sales in September rose in the South and West, remained unchanged in the Midwest, and declined in the Northeast, with the overall gain attributable solely to single-family homes, as sales of condos/co-ops decreased.
Wesbury and Stein note that the median price of an existing home fell to $417,500 in September (not seasonally adjusted) but remains up 1.3% year-over-year. First Trust's economists suggest that existing home sales demonstrated only a small gain in September and continue to be disappointing due to elevated mortgage rates keeping potential buyers sidelined. They describe activity as being
Source: Brian S. Wesbury, Chief Economist and Robert Stein, CFA, Deputy Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios — Data Watch. Read the original at ftportfolios.com.
