Published October 15, 2026 in Market Update

Market 1 still has fewer homes for sale, even as the U.S. adds inventory

By Vladimir Babic

Real estate, Market 1

You may have seen headlines about more homes hitting the market across the country. The National Association of Realtors reported U.S. inventory reached 1.60 million homes in September 2026. That sounds like relief. But locally, the picture is different.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 155 homes for sale across Market 1 in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 18% from the same period a year ago. More supply nationally does not mean more supply on your street.

When supply stays tight locally, buyers still compete. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows 373 homes sold across Market 1 in those same three months, up 2.8% from a year before. Demand held up even as listings stayed scarce.

What the numbers look like ZIP by ZIP

The three months ending August 31, 2026 tell a different story in each ZIP code. Some are tighter than others. Here is where each one stands.

ZIP 03109 had only 11 homes for sale, down 47.6% from a year ago, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 03032 had 15, down 55.9%. Those are very thin numbers. ZIP 03104 had the most at 54, though that was up only 1.9% from last year.

Tight supply keeps sellers in a strong position

When there are few homes to choose from, buyers move fast. The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 69.6% of homes in ZIP 03109 went under contract within two weeks of listing. In ZIP 03032, that share was 68.2%, up 16.2 points from a year ago.

Homes are also selling above list price in most of the market. In ZIP 03109, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 73.2% of homes sold above list price. In ZIP 03106, that share was 53.1%, up 4.8 points from a year ago.

Mortgage rates add pressure for buyers

Buyers are dealing with more than just low supply. Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.73%. Those are not easy numbers for anyone stretching to make an offer work.

Nationally, Realtor.com reported active listings up 6.7% from a year ago as of October 8, 2026. That is the fastest pace since February. But Market 1 went the other direction. Local inventory fell 18% in the same window. The national trend is not the local trend.

Prices held up, with one small dip

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows median sale prices held up or rose in most of Market 1. ZIP 03104 saw the biggest gain, up 8.9% to $520,000. ZIP 03032 rose 3.8% to $825,950. ZIP 03110 dipped 1% to $814,500. That is a small move, not a trend to panic over.

ZIP 03109 had only 0.6 months of supply, the tightest in Market 1. ZIP 03110 had 1.7 months. For context, most economists consider six months a balanced market. Every ZIP here is well below that.

New listings are up a little, but not enough

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 371 new listings across Market 1 in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 2.5% from a year ago. That is a step in the right direction. But with 373 homes sold in the same period, supply is barely keeping pace with demand.

Some ZIPs added more listings than others. ZIP 03104 saw new listings rise 24.3% to 138. ZIP 03106 added 14.8% more to reach 70. But ZIP 03110 dropped 17.1% to 92 new listings, and ZIP 03109 fell 12% to 44.

One thing worth knowing: the numbers above cover whole ZIP codes. One street can read very differently from the ZIP it sits in. Days on market, sale price, and competition all shift block by block. If you want to know what is happening right where you live, just ask.