Published October 8, 2026 in Market Update

Market 1 is still tight even as the national market has more supply

By Vladimir Babic

Real estate, Market 1

The National Association of Realtors reported that the U.S. had 4.9 months of supply in August 2026, the highest level in over ten years. Market 1 is nowhere near that. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 154 homes for sale across Market 1 in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 18.5% from a year ago. While the national picture is loosening up, this market is still running tight.

Tight supply does not mean every home flies off the market. But it does mean buyers have fewer choices. That tends to keep prices firm and gives well-priced homes a real edge.

How the five ZIPs compare

The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked all five ZIPs in Market 1 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. Each one tells a slightly different story, but the thread running through all of them is the same: not much to buy.

ZIP 03109: the tightest corner of the market

ZIP 03109 had just 0.6 months of supply, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. The median home went under contract in 11 days. Nearly 3 in 4 homes, 73.2%, sold above list price. Homes for sale there dropped 47.6% from a year ago. That is a sharp fall. Buyers in 03109 are competing hard for very little inventory.

ZIP 03110 and 03032: the higher-priced end

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 a year ago, a small dip. In ZIP 03032, the median was $825,950, up 3.8%. Both ZIPs had more than half their homes sell above list price, and both sat well under 2 months of supply. Prices dipped slightly in 03110, but the market there is still tight.

ZIP 03104 and 03106: more sales, still tight

ZIP 03104 had the most activity. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 135 homes sold there, up 10.7% from a year ago. The median sale price rose 8.9% to $520,000. New listings climbed 24.3%, which helped, but supply stayed at just 1.2 months. ZIP 03106 also held at 1.2 months. The median there was $520,500, up 2.6%. More than half of homes in both ZIPs sold above list price.

The bigger picture: rates and national trends

Mortgage rates are not helping buyers anywhere right now. Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. The 15-year rate averaged 6.60%. Realtor.com noted that rates crossed 7% in late September for the first time since January 2025. That adds cost to every purchase. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year from second quarter 2025 to second quarter 2026. Prices are still moving up nationally, just more slowly.

The National Association of Realtors also reported that existing-home sales fell 2.0% month over month in August 2026, though they are up 1.6% year-to-date through the first eight months of the year. Nationally, 21% of sellers dropped their asking price in the four weeks ending September 30, 2026, according to Redfin. That is a sign of softness in some parts of the country. Market 1 is not showing the same pattern, at least not yet.

What this means for you

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 373 homes sold across Market 1 in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 2.8% from a year ago. Pending sales came in at 362, up 0.6%. Buyers are still out there. Supply is still thin. That combination keeps pressure on prices even when rates are high.

Not every home sold fast, and not every seller got over asking. But across all five ZIPs, more than half of homes sold above list price in most areas. The market rewards a home that is priced right and shows well. It punishes one that is not.

One more thing worth knowing: the numbers above cover whole ZIP codes. One street can read very differently from the ZIP it sits in. If you want to know what is happening right where you live, text me your address.