Updated market intelligence

Recent Real Estate Trends

National housing signals and Cape Cod-specific trends, translated into practical context for buyers and sellers.

United States

National housing trends

Existing-home sales softened in July

Sales fell 1.7% from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million, but were still 0.7% above July 2025.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®, July 2026 Existing-Home Sales report.
Sales
Prices remain elevated

NAR reported a national median existing-home sales price of about $434,100 in July 2026, up 2.0% year over year.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®.
Prices
Mortgage rates are still shaping affordability

Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.71% for the week ending September 3, 2026, keeping monthly payment sensitivity front and center.

Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Rates
Inventory is improved, but not loose

NAR reported 1.54 million unsold existing homes in July, equal to a 4.6-month supply. That is more balanced than the ultra-tight pandemic-era market, but still not an oversupplied environment.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®.
Inventory
Cape Cod

Cape Cod-specific trends

Single-family sales accelerated

302 single-family homes sold in July 2026, a 20.3% increase from July 2025.

Source: Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS® July 2026 Market Report.
Volume
Median pricing stayed resilient

The July 2026 median single-family sale price was $811,000 versus $820,000 a year earlier, a modest year-over-year dip despite stronger sales volume.

Source: CCIAOR.
Pricing
Homes moved faster

Cumulative days on market for single-family homes fell to 35 days from 48 a year earlier, a 27.1% decline.

Source: CCIAOR.
Pace
Inventory is still constrained

There were 1,065 active single-family listings in Barnstable County in July, down 4.4% year over year. That helps explain why desirable, well-positioned homes can still attract strong attention.

Source: CCIAOR.
Supply
Cash remains a major factor

Cash buyers represented 41.13% of July transactions, reinforcing the importance of strong financing and offer strategy for financed buyers.

Source: CCIAOR.
Competition