09/21/2026
More Homes Hit the Market as Demand Cools
With national housing inventory on the rise—new listings up 0.4% and total homes for sale rising 0.5% in the four weeks ending August 23—we’re seeing the highest supply levels since early Q2. Yet, even as more options open up, pending home sales dipped 1.1% to a six-month low, with high housing costs keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines. The median sale price now sits just above $400K, up 1.9% from last year, and mortgage rates are hovering near 7%, close to a 13-month high.
What does this mean for those searching for a special place—like a Tahoe retreat or a mountain home? Buyers are finding themselves with more leverage: more homes to choose from, and more room to negotiate on price or concessions, especially for properties that have been listed for a few weeks. Sellers who price realistically, rather than chasing last year’s numbers, are seeing the best results. Having spent over 40 years here and helped clients navigate shifting markets for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how timing and local insight can make all the difference in getting the right deal—on both sides of the transaction.