Here’s how much the US housing market shifted last quarter

Home prices rose in 80% of metro areas in Q2 2026, with the national median price at $434,900, up 1.5% year-over-year. The Northeast had the highest median price at $547,200, while the West saw a slight decline. Mortgage rates increased, raising monthly payments and straining first-time buyers, whose payments consumed 35.9% of income. Rising incomes help affordability, but higher mortgage rates remain a challenge.