# U.S. Existing-Home Sales Rise 1.5% in September to 3.99 Million By Enna Lee Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/investing/31296 Published: 2026-10-13T15:50:42.000Z Updated: 2026-10-13T15:50:42.000Z Section: Investing > Sales remained 2.2% below a year earlier as the median price reached a record September level and mortgage rates climbed to 7.4%. Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose in September, but remained below year-earlier levels as higher mortgage rates and elevated prices kept the housing market near a multiyear low. Existing-home sales increased 1.5% from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.99 million units. Sales were down 2.2% from September a year earlier. The annual sales pace has mostly hovered near 4 million since 2023, well below the historical norm of about 5.2 million. September marked the second straight month below the 4 million threshold. The median U.S. home price climbed 1.3% from a year earlier to $417,500. That was a record September median price based on records dating to 1999, while prices rose year over year for the 39th consecutive month. “This is a very tough market out there, especially with mortgage rates rising,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors. The benchmark 30-year mortgage rate reached 7.4% last week, its highest level in nearly three years. The rate had briefly fallen below 6% before the war began in late February. Higher borrowing costs have led many prospective buyers to delay purchases. Buyers who can afford current rates or pay cash have a wider selection as homes remain on the market longer, while the housing market has been in a slump since rates began climbing from pandemic-era lows in 2022. Unsold inventory totaled 1.6 million homes at the end of September, the highest level since November 2019. Inventory rose 1.9% from August and 4.6% from a year earlier, producing 4.8 months’ supply at the current sales pace. A four- to six-month supply is generally viewed as a balanced market between buyers and sellers. The latest figures add to the affordability pressures described in [TokenPost’s earlier coverage of U.S. housing costs](). ## Links in this article - [TokenPost’s earlier coverage of U.S. housing costs](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/investing/29144)