Published October 2, 2026 in Market Update

Primary market sales rose even with mortgage rates above 7%

By Patrick Uhler

Real estate, Primary market

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. That is a real cost. And yet buyers here kept buying.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,397 homes sold across the Primary market in the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is up 6.2% from the same three months a year before. Rates above 7% slowed things nationally. They did not stop sales here.

For context: the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales across the country fell 2.0% in August 2026, reaching 3.98 million. This market moved in the opposite direction.

The broader Florida region shows a similar pattern of demand at the high end. CNBC reported that Miami-Dade County recorded 194 ultra-luxury home sales of $10 million or more in the first eight months of 2026. CNBC also reported that 82% of Miami condo sales valued at $1 million or more in 2025 were all-cash transactions. That level of cash buying insulates part of the market from rate pressure entirely. At the same time, CNBC noted that inflation-adjusted home prices fell 1.6% year over year in Miami, a reminder that higher rates do leave a mark on price in some segments.

More supply and more sales at the same time is a healthy sign. It means the market is moving, not just sitting on listings.

How each ZIP code read in the three months ending July 31, 2026

The story is not the same in every ZIP. Some areas picked up speed. A couple slowed down. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted.

ZIP 33617 led on growth. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 140 homes sold there, up 22.8% from a year earlier. The median sale price rose 19.7% to $350,000. That is a big move in one ZIP.

ZIP 33544 also stood out. Sales rose 13.3% to 94 homes. Days on market fell 21 days shorter to just 24 days, the fastest of any ZIP in this market. The median sale price climbed 6.4% to $460,000.

ZIP 33604 saw 174 homes sold, up 20%. Prices dipped a little, down 1.3% to $369,950. Not every number points the same way, and that is honest.

ZIP 33637 was the one area that pulled back. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 28 homes sold, down 17.6%. Homes for sale there jumped 85.3%, and months of supply rose to 6.9 months. That is a softer pocket inside an otherwise active market.

What the rate picture means for you

Freddie Mac also reported the 15-year fixed rate averaged 6.60% as of October 1, 2026. Some buyers use that to lower their monthly cost.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Nationally, prices are still moving up, just more slowly.

The National Association of Realtors put the national months of supply at 4.9 months, the highest level in over ten years. Here in the Primary market, most ZIPs sit below that. ZIP 33592 was at 2.8 months. ZIP 33603 was at 3.8 months. ZIP 33637 was the outlier at 6.9 months.

Most of this market sits at or below the national supply level. That gives sellers a real position to work from, even with rates where they are.

Speed: how fast homes went under contract

One of the clearest signs of demand is how quickly homes go under contract. The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracks the share that signed within two weeks of listing.

ZIP 33647 led at 37.9%, up 14.1 points from a year ago. ZIP 33617 was close behind at 36.7%. In ZIP 33592, that share fell 13.9 points to 16.1%, and days on market stretched to 71 days. That is a different experience entirely.

These are market-wide numbers. Your street, your price range and your home type can tell a different story. Reach out and I will show you what the numbers say for your specific address.