# Home sales see modest gains, but soaring mortgage rates cloud the outlook

> U.S. home sales rise slightly as mortgage rates surge, threatening housing market.
- Title: Home sales see modest gains, but soaring mortgage rates cloud…
- Summary: U.S. home sales rise slightly as mortgage rates surge, threatening housing market. U.S. home sales rose 1.5% from August to September but remain 2.2% below…
- Keywords: housing, housing market, mortgage rate, interest rates, national association of realtors, freddie mac, oliver allen, pantheon macroeconomics, news, politics, world, Home
- Source: Straight Arrow — https://san.com/cc/home-sales-see-modest-gains-but-soaring-mortgage-rates-cloud-the-outlook
- Published: 2026-10-13T19:22:23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: housing, housing market, mortgage rate, interest rates, national association of realtors, freddie mac, oliver allen, pantheon macroeconomics, news, politics, world
## September home sales rise
U.S. home sales edged higher in September, rising 1.5% from August to September to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 3.99 million.
## Year-over-year sales decline
Existing-home sales remain 2.2% lower than in September 2025, marking a continued slowdown in the housing market.
## Median home price climbs
The median existing-home price climbed 1.3% from a year ago to $417,500, marking the 39th consecutive month of annual price gains.
## Inventory rises
Inventory climbed 4.6% from a year earlier to 1.6 million homes, giving buyers more choices and bargaining power.
## NAR chief economist warns
NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun, said home sellers need to be realistic about local market conditions and may require price discounts to attract buyers.
## Mortgage rates surge
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.40% last Thursday, up from 7.28% a week earlier and well above the 6.30% average of a year earlier.
## Mortgage rates threaten sales
Higher mortgage rates could chill the housing market, with home sales likely to fall further in the months ahead.
## Key takeaway

U.S. home sales rose 1.5% from August to September but remain 2.2% below September 2025 levels amid soaring mortgage rates.