The Best Week To Buy A Home In 2026 Is Coming Up - And It Could Save You $14,000
In Q2 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported that the median home value in the U.S. was $410,700. While this is roughly 92.8% of the nation's all-time high — $442,600 at the end of 2022 — it is still well over double the home values at the turn of the century. With homeownership coming at such a high premium, it can be especially important for would-be buyers to embrace certain times of year that are better for homebuying. Luckily, Realtor.com – looking at supply and demand data from 2018 to 2025 – reports that the best week for Americans to buy a home in 2026 is September 27 to October 3.
During that period, Realtor.com estimates that the median home price will decrease from its summer peak of $416,000 — saving buyers around $14,000 compared to what they might have spent on the same place a few weeks earlier. Realtor.com also projects that this national "Best Week" will feature 13.3% more listings than average, 20% more new listings than there were at the beginning of the year, and a 5.7% drop in price among current listings. The combination of these conditions makes it an ideal time for both seasoned and first-time buyers to scope out otherwise inaccessible deals on their next property.
Fall is the ideal time to buy a house in much of the U.S.
While January might be the cheapest month to buy a home, buying in September and October can be particularly advantageous thanks to increased listings and lower competition. That said, depending on where exactly you live, your area's peak week for buying could change. For instance, 14 of the 50 largest cities in America align with the national Best Week, but that figure jumps to 42 cities if you expand an additional month out from the national dates, per Realtor.com. That said, it could be worth doing some additional research into your desired real estate market.
A big factor influencing the better housing market in autumn is that the school year is well underway by late September. According to the National Association of Realtors, 27% of the people who bought a house in 2025 had kids under the age of 18 — a proportion that increased to 67% for millennials aged 36 to 45 at the time. As the new school year impacts when many families might conveniently relocate, the majority of homebuyers — especially those who are child-free — can take advantage of a market with less competition. Even with this friendlier market, remember to avoid common mistakes, especially if you're a first-time homebuyer.