US Existing Homes Sales Expected to Decline Further in September

02:18 PM EDT, 10/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The National Association of Realtors' measure of US existing-home sales is expected to fall by 0.8% to a 3.95 million annual rate in September, based on a survey compiled by Bloomberg, after falling to a 3.98 million rate in August. Existing-home sales were at a 4.08 million rate in September 2025, so the year-over-year change would be negative. The data are scheduled to be released at 10:00 am ET Tuesday. The pending home sales index, also produced by the NAR, was up 0.3% in August but was 4.7% below its reading a year ago. That measure is taken at contract signing and is meant to foreshadow movements in existing homes closings a month or two out. Recent mortgage application data from the Mortgage Bankers Association indicated that mortgage rates rose to nearly three-year highs in September, creating a barrier to purchasing, especially for first time buyers.