The U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index fell into the cool zone at 94.54 for the week ending August 16, 2026, before edging higher to 95.24 for the week ending August 23, 2026. Despite the modest weekly improvement, the U.S. housing market remains subdued, as elevated mortgage rates and high home prices continue to strain housing affordability and limit buyer demand. With the summer homebuying season nearing its end, the market has yet to see a meaningful pickup in activity. Persistent inflation and broader economic uncertainty are also keeping some prospective homebuyers on the sidelines.
Housing market conditions, however, vary considerably across the country, with local supply, demand, affordability, and economic conditions producing increasingly different outcomes. San Francisco County, California; Jefferson County, Missouri; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; and Plymouth County, Massachusetts are showing comparatively stronger housing demand. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties, Florida; Bexar and Travis Counties, Texas; and Davidson County, Tennessee remain among the weaker housing markets. The growing divide underscores why the 2026 housing market is best understood at the local level rather than through national trends alone.
*Index values are subject to revision as deemed necessary, contingent upon the receipt of new or updated data.
