U.S. December Existing Home Sales Increase 5.1%

WASHINGTON — Existing-home sales increased by 5.1% in December, according to the National Association of Realtors® Existing-Home Sales Report. The Report provides the real estate ecosystem – including agents and homebuyers and sellers – with data on the level of home sales, price, and inventory.

Month-over-month sales increased in all regions. Year-over-year sales increased in the South, remained flat in the Midwest and West, and decreased in the Northeast.

"2025 was another tough year for homebuyers, marked by record-high home prices and historically low home sales,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "However, in the fourth quarter, conditions began improving, with lower mortgage rates and slower home price growth. December home sales, after adjusting for seasonal factors, were the strongest in nearly three years. The gains were broad-based, with all four major regions improving from the prior month."

"Inventory levels remain tight,” Yun added. "With fewer sellers feeling eager to move, homeowners are taking their time deciding when to list or delist their homes. Similar to past years, more inventory is expected to come to market beginning in February."

National snapshot

Total existing-home sales for December

• 5.1% increase in existing-home sales month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million.
• 1.4% increase in sales year over year.

Inventory in December

• 1.18 million units: Total housing inventory2, down 18.1% from November and up 3.5% from December 2024 (1.14 million).
• 3.3-month supply of unsold inventory, down from 4.2 months in November and up from 3.2 months in December 2024.

Median sales price in December

• $405,400: Median existing-home price3 for all housing types, up 0.4% from one year ago ($403,700) – the 30th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.

Single-family and condo/co-op sales

Single-family homes in December

• 5.1% increase in sales month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.95 million, up 1.8% from December 2024.
• $409,500: Median home price in December, up 0.2% from last year.

Condominiums and co-ops in December

• 5.3% increase in sales month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 400,000, down 2.4% from last year.
• $364,400: Median price, up 1.5% from December 2024.

Regional snapshot for existing-home sales in December

Northeast

• 2.0% increase in sales month over month to an annual rate of 520,000, down 1.9% year over year.
• $496,700: Median price, up 3.7% from December 2024.

Midwest

• 2.0% decrease in sales month over month to an annual rate of 1 million, unchanged year over year.
• $306,000: Median price, up 3.1% from December 2024.

South

• 6.9% increase in sales month over month to an annual rate of 2.02 million, up 3.6% year over year.
• $360,200: Median price, down 0.3% from December 2024.

West

• 6.6% increase in sales month over month for an annual rate of 810,000, unchanged year over year.
• $605,600: Median price, down 1.4% from December 2024.

Mortgage rates

• 6.19%: The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in December, according to Freddie Mac, down from 6.24% in November and 6.72% one year ago.

© 2026 National Association of Realtors® (NAR)