Published October 22, 2026 in Market Update

Boston has more homes for sale, but buyers are still showing up

By Vladimir Babic

Real estate, Boston

The number that matters most right now: the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 417 homes for sale across Boston in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 32.8% from the same period in 2025. More supply means buyers have real options. For sellers, it means your home is no longer the only one on the block.

But here is what keeps this from being a buyer's market: demand held up. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 466 homes sold across those same ZIP codes, up 6.9% year over year. Buyers are still active. They just have more to choose from.

Prices are up, but the picture varies by neighborhood

Redfin reported that Boston home prices rose 3.3% year over year in September 2026. That is a real gain. But when you look at individual ZIP codes, the story splits quickly.

Charlestown (02129) was the strongest. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price there at $1,165,000, up 11% from a year ago. Homes sold in 19 days at the median, and 95 homes closed in the period. That is a ZIP that is still moving fast.

Somerville's 02143 ZIP also held firm. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed a median sale price of $1,060,000, up 1% year over year, with 46.8% of homes selling above list price. Nearly half of homes there went for more than the seller asked.

Not every ZIP moved the same way. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed the median sale price in 02109 (Boston's waterfront area) down 30.2% year over year, to $930,000. Only 15 homes sold there in the period. Small ZIP codes with few sales can swing hard on a handful of transactions. One different mix of homes sold can move the median a lot.

Homes are taking a little longer to sell

Realtor.com reported that days on market in Boston increased 6 days year over year in September 2026. That lines up with what the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows at the ZIP level. Most neighborhoods are taking a bit longer than they did a year ago.

Charlestown (02129) was the fastest. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median at 19 days. Somerville's 02143 was close behind at 22 days. Boston's 02114 was the slowest at 53 days, up 25 days from the same period in 2025. That is a real shift. Sellers there need to price carefully from the start.

Above-list sales are still happening, but less often

A year ago, bidding wars were more common. That has cooled a little. But some ZIP codes are still seeing real competition.

In Somerville's 02143, the Real Estate Data Aggregator showed 46.8% of homes sold above list price. In Charlestown (02129), it was 37.9%. Those are meaningful numbers. Buyers in those areas should still expect competition on a well-priced home.

In 02114 (Boston), only 11.8% of homes sold above list, down 6.4 points from a year ago. Sellers there are getting close to list, but not over it. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the average sale-to-list ratio at 97.9% for that ZIP.

Rates are up, and that shapes what buyers can do

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.40% as of October 15, 2026. Realtor.com noted that rates topped 7% for the first time since January 2025 in September 2026. That is real pressure on monthly payments.

Realtor.com reported the median home price in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area at $784,778 in September 2026. At a 7.40% rate, the math is tight for many buyers. That is part of why sellers need to be realistic about price, even in a market where demand is holding.

What this means if you own a home here

More inventory gives buyers choices they did not have a year ago. That means a home that is overpriced, or not well prepared, will sit. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed pending sales across Boston essentially flat, down just 0.5% year over year. Buyers are out there. They are just being more selective.

For sellers, the opportunity is real. Prices are up 3.3% year over year, according to Redfin. Demand is still there. But sharp pricing from day one matters more now than it did when every home had five offers in a week.

For buyers, more supply is genuinely good news. You have more to look at. But in ZIP codes like Charlestown and Somerville's 02143, well-priced homes are still moving fast. Nearly 3 in 10 homes in Somerville's 02145 went under contract within two weeks of listing, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator.