Empyrean Realty

06/01/2026

05/06/2026

Home prices are still climbing in most places—about 71% of metro areas saw increases in early 2026. Nationally, the median home price edged up 0.5% from last year to $404,300, though that growth has slowed a bit compared to the end of 2025.

What’s driving it? According to NAR’s Lawrence Yun, limited inventory is still pushing prices up, especially in the Northeast, while the Midwest continues to see solid gains thanks to more affordable pricing.

Here’s how it’s breaking down by region:

* Northeast: $506,500 (up 4.9%)
* Midwest: $308,100 (up 3.6%)
* South: $362,300 (basically flat, up 0.2%)
* West: $607,600 (down 2.9%)

Bottom line: prices are still rising overall, just at a slower pace—and it really depends on where you’re looking.