According to a report from Realtor.com, new home sales performed better than expected in September, as homebuilders increasingly used incentives to entice hesitant homebuyers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, contract signings for new-construction properties reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000 in September. This is 0.6% below August’s figure and down 5.3% from a year earlier, but more than the 653,000 forecast.
New home sales in the Northeast rebounded 28% higher than last month and 10.3% higher than 2025. However, all other regions in the U.S. posted declines.
Throughout 2026, builders have contrasted an unsteady housing market with buyer incentives, a strategy that has proven successful as sales outperform expected rates.
