Some home inspectors are upgrading their use of tech, and that could mean fewer surprises for home buyers after they move in. Tools such as drones, thermal cameras, moisture meters, sewer scopes and air-quality monitors are increasingly being used by inspectors to uncover problems that may be hidden beneath the surface of a home. AI-assisted software also helps to identify potential property defects or even offer price estimates for repairs.
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Living within walking distance of a school can boost quality of life for families, offering shorter commutes, greater independence for children and easier daily routines. But those benefits often come with a price premium, especially in highly rated school districts, writes Anna Baluch for Realtor.com. Baluch cites NAR data, which shows that buyers will pay more to live in a walkable neighborhood, as they increasingly value convenience over square footage.
When evaluating a neighborhood, experts say buyers should look for continuous sidewalks, safe crossings, traffic-calming measures and good visibility. Michelle Griffith, a luxury real estate broker at Douglas Elliman in New York City, recommends that—before they make an offer—buyers walk the neighborhood multiple times a day to get a good read of what goes on throughout the day and week.
Existing-home sales decreased by 2.0% month-over-month and 1.2% year-over-year, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Existing-Home Sales report.
“Mortgage rates and home sales move in opposite directions, so it’s not surprising to see a mild dip in home buying activity due to high mortgage rates,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Still, home prices are rising, and existing home sales are actually up 1.6% year-to-date through the first eight months of the year. Homebuying demand, despite higher interest rates, is no doubt being supported by rising wages, which grew 3.1% in August, along with 643,000 net new jobs added since the start of the year. Job creation and wage growth typically drive housing demand.”
“The number of months it would take to exhaust the total inventory at the current sales pace has grown to 4.9 months’ supply—its highest level in over ten years. The ample supply of homes for sale on the market is giving homebuyers better opportunities to negotiate,” Yun added.
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Source: National Association of REALTORS® 9/10/26
The August Market Stats are here:
Explore all the stats from August…
Source: NWMLS 9/3/26
Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the premier broker-owned multiple listing service in the Pacific Northwest, announced updated listing options designed to further expand seller flexibility while ensuring an open, comprehensive, and transparent marketplace for residential real estate.
NWMLS’s new “First Look” listing option gives sellers enhanced flexibility during the early stages of a listing without walling off inventory inside closed or private networks. Developed in response to member feedback, First Look provides practical solutions for navigating Washington’s public marketing requirements, balancing sellers’ needs for preparation time with buyers’ access to the marketplace.
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Recessed lights have seen a notable decline in popularity among designers, with more moving toward flush-mount lights. Many professionals now consider recessed lights outdated, as they clash with the current trend of nostalgia-inspired, textured interiors. Designers emphasize that the grid-like appearance of recessed cans makes a space feel impersonal and out of sync with architectural details like medallions and moldings.
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Total Existing-Home Sales for July
• 1.7% decrease in existing-home sales1 month-over-month.
• 0.7% increase year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million.
Inventory in July
• 1.54 million units: Total housing inventory2, down 1.9% from June and down 0.6% from July 2025.
• 4.6-month supply of unsold inventory, unchanged from last month and one year ago.
Median Sales Price in July
• $434,100: Median existing-home price3 for all housing types.
• 2.0% increase from one year ago ($425,700), marking the 37th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
Read more details, including regional data, here…
Source: National Association of REALTORS® 8/11/26
Closing time can be hectic, but it’s important that buyers not overlook the final walk-through. This is the last opportunity for them to ask questions and ensure the property is in the condition they expect prior to closing.
In summary, compared to July 2025, the July 2026 stats show:
Steven Bourassa, Director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research: “Interest rates, which averaged over 6.5% during the month (slightly higher than the previous month), continued to discourage buyers. The Federal Reserve Bank’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept short-term interest rates unchanged when they met late in the month due to the ongoing pressures of high inflation stemming from the continuing war with Iran. Expectations are that the FOMC will increase short-term rates later this year and early next year, implying that longer-term rates are also likely to go up.”
Source: NWMLS 8/4/26
Existing-home sales decreased by 2.4% month-over-month and increased 2.8% year-over-year, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Existing-Home Sales report. The report provides the real estate ecosystem—including agents, homebuyers and sellers—with data on the level of home sales, price, and inventory.
Month-over-month sales increased in the Northeast, and declined in the Midwest, South and West. Year-over-year sales rose in the Midwest, South and West and were flat in the Northeast.
“The back-and-forth in monthly home sales activity, driven by mild fluctuations in mortgage rates, shows how sensitive home buyers are to affordability conditions,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “However, job gains—more than half a million since the beginning of the year—will continue to provide support for the housing market.”
“The median home price has reached an all-time high. Even so, affordability is better than a year ago because wage growth is outpacing home price growth,” Yun continued. “However, progress on long-term housing affordability could be hampered if inventory growth continues to stall. Without consistent gains in inventory, home prices can accelerate. It is critical to introduce more supply to the market to widen the opportunity for homeownership.”
Read more details, including regional data, here…
Source: National Association of REALTORS® 7/9/26
