Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

More listings are hitting the market, but fast homes still stand out

By Jason & Susan Zwolak

Real estate, Expired Listings

Hey guys, I've been watching the numbers closely as of October 18, 2026, and I want to share what I'm seeing. The big picture and your street don't always match, so let me break it down.

More homes to choose from, nationally and locally

Realtor.com reported that active listings reached 1.16 million homes nationally in September 2026. That's real choice for buyers. Locally, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 168 new listings in 92620 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That's up 21.7% from the same period a year before.

More listings means buyers have more options. For sellers, it also means more competition. The homes that are ready and priced well are still the ones buyers are choosing.

Buyers are still moving, but rates are a headwind

CNBC reported the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.50% as of October 14, 2026. That's not easy. CNBC also reported that mortgage applications for home purchase fell 16% compared to one year ago that same week. Realtor.com put rates above 7% in September 2026 nationally. That slows some buyers down.

Even so, pending sales in several ZIP codes are up. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 115 pending sales in 92620 for the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 23.7% from a year before. In 92625, pending sales were up 38.2%. In 92603, they were up 65.7%. Buyers are still out there.

Price cuts are showing up, here and nationally

Realtor.com reported that 20.8% of listings nationally had price reductions in September 2026. That's the highest share since October 2022. Locally, median sale prices dipped in several ZIP codes. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed the median in 92604 down 1.4%, in 92620 down 7.4%, and in 92602 down 13% for the three months ending August 31, 2026. Not every ZIP code fell. In 92660, the median was up 30.9%, and in 92625 it was up 9.1%.

The homes that moved fast, and the ones that didn't

Speed tells you a lot about where the market is tight. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that in 92626, 40.5% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing for the three months ending August 31, 2026. In 92627, that share was 37.4%. In 92604, it was 34.9%, up 8.8 points from a year before. Those are real signs that well-priced homes are still pulling buyers in quickly.

On the other end, 92662 had just 13.3% of homes go under contract within two weeks. In 92618, only 16.7% did. More listings and higher rates mean some homes are sitting longer.

Days on market: some ZIP codes are moving faster

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that median days on market fell in several ZIP codes for the three months ending August 31, 2026. In 92651, homes took 30 days less than a year ago. In 92661, 33 days less. In 92620, 11 days less. That's a real shift. But in 92604, homes took 13 days longer, and in 92625, 11 days longer. It's not the same story everywhere.

Supply: some areas have more breathing room than others

Months of supply tells you how long it would take to sell every home currently listed. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 2 months of supply in 92626 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That's tight. In 92661, it was 6.6 months, down 2.8 months from a year before. In 92618, it was 5.8 months, down 1.2 months. More supply gives buyers more time to decide.

What this means for you

If you're buying, you have more options than you did a year ago in most of this market. Rates are higher, but more homes are available and some prices have come down. If you're selling, the data for the three months ending August 31, 2026 is clear: homes priced right are still finding buyers fast. The ones that aren't are sitting.

Realtor.com reported that nationally, 20.8% of listings took a price cut in September 2026. That's worth paying attention to. A price that's a little too high can cost you more time than a price cut would have.