Published October 8, 2026 in Market Update

Higher mortgage rates are showing up in Bedford demand

By Vladimir Babic

Real estate, Bedford, NH

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. That is the first time rates have topped 7% since January 2025, according to Realtor.com. When borrowing costs rise that fast, buyers feel it in their monthly payment before they feel it in the list price.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted pending sales in Bedford ZIP 03110 down 25.9% for the three months ending August 31, 2026, compared with the same months of 2025. That is the sharpest move in any of the numbers. Demand eased faster than supply did.

What the Bedford numbers show

Fewer buyers are moving forward. Fewer sellers are listing. Both sides are pulling back at almost the same pace, which is why prices have not dropped much.

Prices held, but just barely

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price in ZIP 03110 at $814,500 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 1% from the same period a year before. A small dip, not a slide. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Bedford's price held closer to flat.

Sellers are still getting above list price

This is the part that surprises people. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows homes in Bedford sold at an average of 101.5% of list price in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down just 0.2 points from a year before. And 52.2% of homes sold above list price, actually up 1.3 points from last year.

57.8% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That share is down 2.9 points from a year before, so not every home moved fast. But more than half still did.

The national picture adds context

Realtor.com reported that 20.8% of listings had their price reduced in September, the highest share since October 2022. That is a national figure, not a Bedford one. But it shows the same pressure showing up here is showing up everywhere rates have climbed.

Active listings nationally grew 5.5% year-over-year and topped 1.16 million homes, according to Realtor.com. In Bedford, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 50 homes for sale in the same period, down 9.1% from a year before. Bedford's inventory is still tight even as the national picture loosens.

One more thing: the ZIP code number tells you the general story. One street can read very differently from the whole. A home on a quiet cul-de-sac and one on a busier road both sit in 03110, but they do not behave the same way. If you want to know what the numbers mean for your specific address, send me a note.