Published October 26, 2026 in Market Update

Primary market sales are still moving despite higher mortgage rates

By Patrick Uhler

Real estate, Primary market

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.32% as of October 22, 2026. That is the headline number every buyer is watching right now. But here is what the local numbers say: deals are still getting done.

For the three months ending August 31, 2026, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,297 homes sold across the Primary market. That is up 5.7% from the same three months in 2025. Rates are high, but buyers did not disappear.

Pending sales of 1,321 are up 3.1% year over year, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Contracts being signed today will close in the weeks ahead. That pipeline is still filling.

The national picture backs this up

The National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales reached 3.99 million units in September 2026. Prices nationally were up 1.3% from a year before. The market slowed but did not stop.

Realtor.com noted that September pending home sales were down 11.3% year over year nationally. Our Primary market, up 3.1%, is holding up better than that national figure.

How each ZIP code is reading

The story is not the same in every neighborhood. Some ZIP codes are moving faster than others.

Where things moved fastest

ZIP 33617 in Tampa saw the biggest jump in sales. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 131 homes sold there, up 24.8% from a year before. The median sale price rose 27.3% to $350,000. More buyers, more closings, higher prices.

ZIP 33604 in Tampa also showed strong buyer activity. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 165 homes sold, up 16.2%. About 1 in 6 homes there sold above list price, at 16.4%. Pending sales were up 7.5%.

ZIP 33637 in Tampa was a bright spot too. Sales rose 14.7% to 39 homes, and pending sales jumped 21.6%, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Nearly 1 in 3 homes went under contract within two weeks of listing.

Where buyers are taking more time

Not every corner of the market is moving at the same pace. That is worth knowing if you are pricing a home.

ZIP 33592 in Thonotosassa had a median of 73 days on market, which was 57 days longer than a year before, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. The sale-to-list ratio fell to 93.8%. Homes sold there, but sellers had to be patient and flexible on price.

ZIP 33602 in Tampa carried 7 months of supply, the highest in the market, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Homes sold there took a median of 63 days. More inventory and more time means buyers have more choices in that ZIP.

Wesley Chapel: prices dipped a little in one ZIP, held in others

ZIP 33543 in Wesley Chapel saw its median sale price dip 4.8% to $462,995, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Sales still rose 3.2%. Prices pulled back a little, and buyers responded.

ZIP 33545 in Wesley Chapel told a different story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 237 homes sold, up 1.7%, and pending sales jumped 18.4%. The median sale price rose 2.2% to $429,290. Days on market fell 15 days shorter than a year before.

ZIP 33544 in Wesley Chapel had 15.2% of homes sell above list price, up 8.9 points from a year ago, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. New listings fell 24.4%, so fewer homes came to market and competition stayed real.

What the rate means in practice

Freddie Mac reported the 15-year fixed rate at 6.68% as of October 22, 2026. Some buyers use that for shorter loan terms. Either way, rates are part of every conversation right now.

Realtor.com showed the average mortgage rate on the market at 7.40% as of October 22, 2026. That is close to what Freddie Mac reported. Buyers are working with these numbers and still signing contracts.

The National Association of Realtors counted 1.60 million homes for sale nationally in September 2026. More supply nationally gives buyers options. Here in the Primary market, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,925 homes for sale, up 6.5% from a year before.

One street can read very differently from the ZIP code around it. A block with less inventory or a different price range can move faster or slower than these numbers suggest. If your home is on a specific street, the ZIP average may not tell your full story. Reach out and let's look at what is actually happening near you.