Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

Primary market sales rose even with higher mortgage rates

By Becky Jackson

Real estate, Raleigh Hills & Cedar Hills

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. That is a real cost. And yet buyers kept showing up.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 863 homes sold across the Primary market in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 3.4% from the same months of 2025. Demand did not disappear at higher rates. That matters for how you think about timing.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator also counted 914 pending sales, up 3.2%. Pending sales show what buyers are doing right now, not last month. More contracts means more people decided the rate was worth it.

Supply shrank while sales rose

The Real Estate Data Aggregator found 1,152 homes for sale in the Primary market, down 9.2% from a year before. Fewer choices for buyers, with more buyers active. That combination shapes pricing and timing for sellers.

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales were up 1.6% year-to-date through the first eight months of 2026. The Primary market's 3.4% gain ran ahead of that national pace.

How each ZIP code looked

Not every ZIP moved the same way. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted for each area in the three months ending August 31, 2026.

Speed: some ZIPs moved fast, others did not

The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that in 97225, the median home sold in 18 days. In 97219, it was 19 days. Those are quick. In 97201, the median was 69 days. Not every home sold fast, and the ZIP code makes a real difference.

Homes going under contract quickly

The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked how many homes went under contract within two weeks of listing. In 97219, that share was 43.3%. In 97225, it was 41.9%. In 97201, it was 13.8%. The same market, very different speeds.

Prices: a mixed picture

Prices moved in different directions. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed 97221 up 9.2% to $846,500. It showed 97225 down 9.1% to $720,000. More sales at lower prices can still mean a healthy market. It depends on what sold.

What the rate picture means

Freddie Mac put the 15-year fixed rate at 6.73% as of October 8, 2026. Some buyers use that to lower their payment. Realtor.com reported active listings nationally were up 6.7% from a year ago as of October 8, 2026. More supply nationally, but here supply fell 9.2%.

Realtor.com also noted homes were spending one fewer day on market than a year ago nationally. The Primary market's fastest ZIPs beat that by a wide margin.

These numbers cover the three months ending August 31, 2026. One street can read very differently from the whole ZIP code. If you want to know what the numbers say about your specific address, I am glad to take a look.