Published October 4, 2026 in Market Update

Primary market sales rose even as mortgage rates stayed above 7%

By Erik Kelly

Real estate, Primary market

Rates above 7% did not stop buyers here. That matters because pricing your home right is now more important than ever.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,903 homes sold across the Primary market in the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is up 18.7% from the same three months a year before. Demand held up even with rates where they are.

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. Realtor.com noted that rates crossed 7% in late September for the first time since January 2025. That raises monthly payments, so getting the list price right matters more than it did a year ago.

Nationally, the picture is more cautious. The National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales fell 2.0% month over month in August 2026. Realtor.com also noted homes under contract nationally were down 4.1% year over year. The Primary market bucked that trend with its 18.7% sales gain.

Fewer homes for sale, but buyers kept showing up

The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed only 2,132 homes for sale across the Primary market, down 9.9% from a year ago. Fewer choices for buyers can push prices up, but it also means a well-priced home gets more attention.

Pending sales hit 1,817, up 8.9% from a year earlier, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Buyers are still signing contracts. That is a steady sign of demand, not a slowdown.

How each ZIP code read in the three months ending July 31, 2026

Every ZIP below comes from the Real Estate Data Aggregator for the three months ending July 31, 2026. The story is not the same everywhere.

ZIP 85260 stood out. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed its median sale price rose 10.2% to $716,000, while 176 homes sold, up 16.6%. Pending sales there were up 23.6% and 24% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing.

ZIP 85018 sold more homes too, up 41.4% to 181 sales. But the median price fell 22% to $998,000. More volume at a lower price tells you the mix of what sold shifted, not that every home lost value.

ZIP 85044 moved fast. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put its median days on market at 46, down 14 days from a year ago. And 34.4% of homes there went under contract within two weeks of listing, up 12.1 points year over year.

ZIP 85012 took the longest, at 91 median days on market. Only 35 homes sold there, though that was up 25% from a year ago. Fewer sales in a small ZIP can swing the numbers a lot.

What the national picture adds

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. That is slow, steady growth nationally.

Realtor.com noted that price cuts hit their highest September readings since 2018. That is a national signal. It tells sellers that overpricing a home is a real risk right now, even here where sales rose.

Nationally, Realtor.com also reported active listings up 6.3% from a year ago. The Primary market went the other way: the Real Estate Data Aggregator showed homes for sale here fell 9.9%. Less supply here than in most of the country.

What this means for you

Sales rose across the Primary market even with a 7.28% rate (Freddie Mac, October 1, 2026). Buyers are still active. But days on market stretched longer in several ZIP codes, and Realtor.com flagged record price cuts nationally. Pricing carefully is the clearest thing a seller can control.

For buyers, the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows supply here is tighter than the national picture. That means less room to wait. Payment planning at today's rate matters before you start looking.