The average price of a single-family home in the U.S. resale market exceeded $400,000 in the first quarter of 2026, despite weak demand and reduced mortgage availability, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
According to NAR, the median price of an existing single-family home in the U.S. rose by 0.5% year-over-year to $404,300. Price increases were recorded in 71% of urban markets, or in 167 of the 235 metropolitan areas tracked. At the same time, the pace of price increases has slowed: in the fourth quarter of 2025, annual growth stood at 1.2%.
Regional trends remain mixed. In the Northeast, the median price reached $506,500, up 4.9% over the year. In the Midwest, homes cost an average of $308,100, with a 3.6% increase. In the South, prices remained virtually unchanged at $362,300, while in the West, the most expensive region, they fell by 2.9% to $607,600.
The rise in single-family home prices is occurring against a backdrop of weak buyer activity. According to NAR, existing home sales in March 2026 fell by 3.6% from the previous month, with declines recorded in all regions. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that the market remains sluggish due to declining consumer confidence and weaker job growth.
High mortgage rates remain one of the main constraints on demand. Even with slowing price growth, buying a home is becoming less affordable for many American families: monthly mortgage payments remain high, and sellers are in no hurry to lower prices due to limited supply of quality housing.
The new-home market, however, looks softer. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the median price of a new home sold in March 2026 was $387,400, down 6.2% year-over-year. This is due to a high inventory of new homes on the market and developers’ efforts to stimulate demand.
