07/08/2026
A recent NAR article signals that buyers are showing renewed activity heading into the summer season. Contract signings and closed sales both moved higher in May—an encouraging sign that momentum is building.
Here's what stands out:
Buyer demand is re‑emerging
Pending home sales rose 3.8% month over month and nearly 5% year over year, pointing to a late‑spring pickup in buyer activity—even with mortgage rates holding in the mid‑6% range.
Momentum is broad‑based
All four regions of the U.S. saw gains, with especially strong increases in the Northeast and Midwest, reinforcing that this isn't isolated to just a few markets.
Closed sales are following
Existing‑home sales increased 3.2%, marking one of the strongest months for completed transactions in the past three years—an important signal that contracts are converting to closings.
Buyers are adjusting, not retreating
According to NAR's chief economist, buyers are increasingly accepting today's rate environment as the new normal, supported by steady wage growth that's helping offset higher prices.
This renewed buyer activity creates a strong opportunity for agents and lenders to work together—supporting confident conversations, setting realistic expectations, and helping motivated buyers and sellers move forward as momentum builds heading into the summer market
