Realtor.com® Market Clock® Report: Buyers Gain Ground as Mortgage Rates Top 7%
Realtor.com's Q3 2026 Market Clock report moved the national reading to 4 o'clock — late balanced and loosening toward buyers — with about two-thirds of the 99 covered metros favoring buyers or trending that way. Mortgage rates rose 74 basis points from 6.66% in late August to 7.40% on October 8, cutting purchasing power for a $2,000 monthly budget by 7.2%, or more than $22,000 in home price. Regionally, 16 of 18 seller's markets sit in the Midwest while 14 of 17 buyer's markets are in the South; Austin, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Portland each shifted two hours toward buyers this quarter.
Key figures
- Buyer markets
- 17
- Metros covered
- 99
- Seller markets
- 27
- Rate increase bps
- 74
- Mortgage rate oct8
- 7.40%
- Purchasing power loss
- 7.2%
- Mortgage rate late aug
- 6.66%
- National clock reading
- 4 o'clock (late balanced, loosening toward buyers)
- Balanced loosening markets
- 49
- Balanced tightening markets
- 6
- Metros shifted past quarter
- 41
AI analysis
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AI-generated analysis of a public disclosure. Not investment advice; verify against the original document.