The U.S. housing market showed a slight improvement during the week ending June 21, 2026, with the Housing Market Hotness Index rising to 99.09, up from 98.72 the previous week. While the increase suggests a modest pickup in activity, it is far from signaling a meaningful recovery. The housing market remains constrained by affordability challenges. Mortgage rates have hovered in the mid-6% range since the end of May, keeping financing costs beyond reach for many households. At the same time, expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in 2026 have diminished considerably as inflation remains above the Fed’s long-term target. The result is a market caught in a familiar stalemate.
National trends, however, mask significant differences across local markets. Some housing markets continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. San Francisco County, California; Jackson and St. Louis Counties, Missouri; Marion County, Indiana; and Cuyahoga County, Ohio remain among the nation’s strongest-performing markets. By contrast, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties in Florida, along with Bexar and Travis Counties in Texas and Davidson County, Tennessee, are experiencing softer buyer demand.
*Index values are subject to revision as deemed necessary, contingent upon the receipt of new or updated data.
