U.S. Existing-Home Sales Tick Up in October Despite Tight Supply

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In October 2025, U.S. existing-home sales saw a modest rebound, rising 1.2% from September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.10 million. Nar+2Reuters+2 This marks an 8-month high and edges slightly above economists’ expectations. Nasdaq+1

Inventory Still Tight

Even with the uptick in sales, supply remains constrained. Total inventory came in at 1.52 million homes, down 0.7% from September but up 10.9% year over year from October 2024. Nar+1 That translates into just a 4.4-month supply at the current sales pace — well below what many consider a balanced market. Nar

Prices Keep Climbing

Home prices continue to push higher. The median existing-home price in October was $415,200, a 2.1% increase compared to the same month last year. Nar Notably, this marks the 28th consecutive month of annual price gains. Nar

Regional Trends & Buyer Challenges

• On a month-over-month basis, sales rose in the Midwest and South, held steady in the Northeast, and declined in the West. Nar
• First-time buyers continue to face obstacles: tight supply in the Northeast and high prices in the West make entry difficult. Nar
• Despite the tight market, lower mortgage rates helped draw more buyers in October, according to NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. Nar