Existing-Home Sales Fell to 3.98M in August—4.9 Months’ Supply Favors Negotiation

Existing sales cooled while supply built

The National Association of REALTORS® August 2026 Existing-Home Sales report (released Sept. 10) shows U.S. existing-home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million—down 2.0% month over month and 1.2% year over year. Unsold inventory rose to 1.62 million homes (+3.2% from July; +5.9% YoY), equal to 4.9 months’ supply—NAR’s Lawrence Yun called that the highest months’-supply reading in over ten years. The national median existing-home price was $429,100 (+1.6% YoY).

That is a national closings series—not a Longview or Tyler CMA. Use it as direction: buyers have more choices than they did when supply was thinner, even while medians still rose year over year.

South region still the volume center

In the South, August sales ran at 1.84 million SAAR (−1.6% MoM; unchanged YoY). The South median existing-home price was $366,500 (+0.7% YoY). Nationally, NAR’s REALTORS® Confidence Index put median time on market at 31 days (up from 29 in July).

More supply and slightly cooler sales pace usually mean buyers negotiate harder on price, repairs, and concessions. Sellers who still price to last spring’s scroll feel that first.

What East Texas sellers should do

Refresh photos and disclosures. Price to recent closed comps and active competition—not peak summer asks. If showings are soft, ask whether the issue is condition, presentation, or payment friction at today’s rates. A proactive price strategy beats hoping demand returns overnight.

OnTheMarketTexas helps Texas sellers understand market timing and listing strategy. We do not invent local sale prices or guaranteed days-on-market outcomes in this article.

Takeaway: August’s 3.98M sales pace and 4.9 months’ supply favor buyers who still qualify. East Texas sellers should price for today’s negotiation climate—not last year’s scarcity story.

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