Realtor.com

Realtor.com: Sept. 27–Oct. 3 Is 2026's Best Week to Buy a Home

Austin – September 17, 2026 -- Home shoppers hoping to stretch their budget should mark September 27 through October 3 on their calendars, according to Realtor.com's 2026 Best Time to Buy Report.

During that week, buyers may find up to 31.9% more active listings than at the start of the year. Listing prices are projected to sit 3.5% below their seasonal peak, translating to roughly $14,000 in savings on a median-priced home of about $416,000.

Buyer competition drops nearly a third below its annual peak

Competition, measured by Realtor.com listing views per property, is historically 30.1% below its yearly high during this week and 14.4% below the average week. Homes are expected to sit on the market for about 64 days during the Best Week -- roughly 13 days longer than the year's fastest-selling stretch.

Charleston Tops List of Best U.S. Metros to Buy New-Construction Homes in 2026

Austin, Texas – September 03, 2026 -- Homebuyers hunting for a new-built house at a discount should look to Charleston, South Carolina, where new construction now sells for 12.2% less than existing homes, according to Realtor.com's second annual Top Metros for New Construction report.

Charleston-North Charleston tops the ranking of the 100 largest U.S. metros with an overall score of 84.7 out of 100. The median new-build listing there runs $443,273, compared with $504,832 for an existing home -- the widest new-construction price advantage among the top 10 markets.

Southern metros dominate the top 10 rankings

Eight of the 10 best metros for new construction sit in the South. Greenville-Anderson-Greer, South Carolina, ranks second, followed by Boise City, Idaho, in third. Six of the top 10 metros are located in North or South Carolina, and two more are in Tennessee.