U.S. Existing Home Sales Rose 5.1% in December; Northeast Sales Posted 2% Increase in Deals Last Month
Real Estate In-Depth • January 15, 2026
WASHINGTON—Existing-home sales increased by 5.1% in December, according to a report released today by the National Association of Realtors.
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 inventory was 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 price for all housing types, up 0.4% from one year ago ($403,700)—the 30th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
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.
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
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% increase 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.
Our new office gives us an opportunity to be more accessible, more engaged and, most importantly, more connected to our members.
The proposal calls for a single approximately 454,000-square-foot warehouse with accessory office space, truck loading docks, trailer storage, employee parking and related infrastructure.
The Meadows of Briarcliff, proposed for a 42-acre property at 715 Sleepy Hollow Road, has been under review since 2021.
The company will expand its operations at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, strengthening its existing New York presence.
All of the apartments will be affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income, with units serving a range of income levels.
The funding comes as communities across New York continue to face challenges related to housing affordability, limited inventory and the cost of maintaining older homes.
