U.S. existing home sales recorded a slight increase in April after falling to a nine-month low in March, according to an analysis from the National Association of Home Builders. Despite the modest monthly improvement, sales remained at historically low levels as affordability pressures continued to weigh on the market.
Elevated mortgage rates, economic uncertainty and inflationary pressure linked to the Iran war continued to affect buyers. Rising long-term rates made financing more difficult, while higher energy costs added further strain to household budgets.
According to the National Association of Realtors, total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased by 0.2% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million. Compared with the same period last year, sales were unchanged.
Inventory increased in April
The existing home inventory level reached 1.5 million units in April, up 5.8% from March and 1.4% compared with a year earlier. At the current sales pace, unsold inventory represented a 4.4-month supply, compared with 4.2 months in March and 4.3 months in April 2025. A supply range of 4.5 to 6 months is generally considered a balanced market.
Homes spent a median of 32 days on the market in April. This was down from 41 days in the previous month but higher than the 29 days recorded in April 2025.
The share of first-time buyers rose slightly to 33% in April, up from 32% in March, but remained just below the 34% share recorded a year earlier.
Prices continued to move upward
The median sales price for all existing homes reached $417,700 in April, representing a 0.9% increase from the previous year. This marked the 34th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains.
The median price for condominiums and co-ops was $374,100, up 1.1% from a year earlier. However, recent increases in inventory are expected to create downward pressure on resale home prices in many markets during 2026.
Regional sales trends were mixed
Existing home sales showed different trends across the four major U.S. regions in April. Sales increased in the Midwest by 2.2% and in the South by 0.5%, while they declined in the West by 2.6%. Sales in the Northeast were unchanged.
On a year-over-year basis, sales remained flat in the West, declined in the Northeast by 8.2% and in the Midwest by 1.0%, while the South recorded a 2.7% increase.
Pending sales improved, but mortgage rates remain a risk
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts, rose from 72.6 to 73.7 in March, supported by improved inventory conditions. However, pending sales were still 1.1% lower than a year earlier.
According to NAR data, the recent resurgence in mortgage rates driven by the Iran war could reverse this improvement and weigh further on buyer activity in the coming months.
