Overview
- NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index rose to 79.2, up 3.3% from October and 2.6% year over year.
- All regions recorded monthly increases, led by the West at 9.2%, followed by the South (2.4%), Northeast (1.8%) and Midwest (1.3%).
- Thirty-year mortgage rates eased to roughly the low‑6% range near 6.18%, and modestly higher inventory offered buyers more choices.
- NAR’s survey showed sentiment improving, with 22% of members expecting more buyer traffic and 18% expecting more seller traffic in the next three months.
- Pending sales typically lead closings by one to two months, signaling a near‑term pickup in existing‑home sales even as overall activity stays below long‑run norms and 2026 projections remain divided.