10/12/2026
US Inventory Growth Slows Stays Soft
As we move through mid-Q3 2026, national active home inventory has reached 1.14 million—up about 4% from last year’s 1.1 million. While that’s still growth, the pace has cooled significantly from the 21% jump we saw the previous year. In fact, after dipping to a low near 2% growth in late Q2, the market has steadied but remains softer than many hoped for. By the close of mid-Q3, 18 states and DC managed to rebound to pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels, even as the nation overall is still about 8% below, with 1.14 million active listings versus 1.24 million in 2019. The rapid inventory gains that followed the post-boom market have now eased, resulting in a market that’s soft, with yearly prices staying flat. With higher yields and mortgage rates still in play, momentum will be something to watch closely. After more than 35 years guiding buyers and sellers through changing East Bay markets, I know how important it is to keep clients informed—and to make every transaction as smooth and stress-free as possible.
