Home Prices Rise In Majority Of US Cities During Early 2026

Home prices in the vast majority of U.S. metropolitan areas continued their upward climb in the first quarter of 2026. Data shows that 71% of markets saw price increases, even as the broader national growth rate began to stabilize. The national median price for a single-family existing home edged up to $404,300, marking a modest 0.5% increase compared to the previous year.

While the majority of cities are seeing gains, the pace of growth is noticeably cooling. The 0.5% year-over-year rise is a step down from the 1.2% annual growth recorded in the final quarter of 2025. This deceleration suggests that while demand remains steady enough to keep prices elevated, the rapid surges seen in previous years are giving way to a more measured market environment.

For potential buyers and sellers, these figures highlight a fragmented landscape. Though nearly three-quarters of the country faces higher entry costs, the marginal nature of the national increase indicates that some regions may be seeing prices plateau or even dip. Watching how local inventory levels respond to these high median prices will be critical throughout the summer selling season.

This report is based on data and analysis provided by Florida Realtors.