Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

Primary market has more choice than last year, but it is not loose everywhere

By Mike Raivala

Real estate, Primary market

The National Association of Realtors counted 4.9 months of supply across the U.S., the highest level in over ten years. That is the headline number. But in many parts of this market, supply sits at 1.2 to 1.7 months. More choice is real. It is just not equal.

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. That slows buyers down. It also means sellers who price sharp sell faster than those who do not.

How tight is your ZIP code?

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted months of supply across every ZIP code here for the three months ending August 31, 2026. The range is wide. Some areas have under two months. Others have nearly eight.

ZIP 55718 had just 0.7 months of supply, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 55734 had 7.6 months. That is not the same market. It is the same map.

The tight end: fast, competitive, prices holding

In ZIP 55804, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1.2 months of supply. The median sold price was $400,000. Homes sold in a median of 12 days. More than half, 52.5%, went under contract within two weeks of listing.

ZIP 54880 also sat at 1.6 months of supply. The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 59.5% of homes there went under contract within two weeks. That is the highest share of any ZIP in this data set.

ZIP 55811 saw 140 homes sold, up 33.3% from the same period a year ago, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. New listings jumped 50.9%. Homes for sale doubled. Yet supply stayed at just 1.7 months. Buyers showed up.

The looser end: more time, more negotiating room

ZIP 55734 tells a different story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 7.6 months of supply there. The median price slipped 6% from a year ago to $150,000. Homes sat for a median of 43 days.

ZIP 54847 had 5.8 months of supply. The median days on market was 83. No home sold above list price in that period, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Sellers there face real competition from other listings.

ZIP 55614 had a median sale price of $165,000, down 5.2% from a year ago. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed homes sitting for a median of 72 days. Only 5.3% sold above list price.

What the national picture adds

The National Association of Realtors said existing-home sales fell 2.0% month over month in August 2026. Year to date through the first eight months of 2026, they are up 1.6%. Slow, but not stopped.

Freddie Mac reported the 15-year fixed rate at 6.73% as of October 8, 2026. Rates this high push some buyers to wait. That matters more in ZIP codes where supply is already building.

Nationally, about 21% of sellers dropped their asking price in the past four weeks, according to data reported by a senior economist. That share is a useful reminder: pricing too high costs time and money.

Prices: mostly up, a few down

Most ZIP codes saw prices rise year over year. ZIP 54873 stood out: the Real Estate Data Aggregator showed the median sale price up 55.2% to $360,000. Sales volume there nearly doubled, up 87.5%.

ZIP 54814 saw a 21.2% price gain to $357,500. But homes there sat for a median of 51 days, 11 days longer than a year ago. A higher price does not always mean a faster sale.

Speed: some ZIP codes moved much faster

The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that ZIP 55804 had a median of 12 days on market, down 11 days from a year ago. ZIP 54880 was 13 days. ZIP 55807 and 54874 both came in at 11 days.

ZIP 54847 was the slowest at 83 days, up 45 days from a year ago. ZIP 55614 followed at 72 days, up 19 days. If your home is in one of these areas, pricing and presentation carry more weight now.

Above-list sales: still common in several areas

In ZIP 54880, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 52.6% of homes sold above list price. In ZIP 55804, that share was 49.4%. In ZIP 54874, it was 50%. Competition is real in these areas.

In ZIP 54847, zero homes sold above list price. In ZIP 55614, just 5.3% did. These are not the same conditions, even inside the same broad market.

What this means if you own a home here

If your home is in a ZIP with under two months of supply, well-priced homes are still moving fast. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows sale-to-list ratios above 100% in several of those areas.

If your home is in a ZIP with four or more months of supply, buyers have options. They will compare carefully. Price and condition matter more than they did a year ago.

Nationally, Realtor.com reported active listings up 6.7% from a year ago, the fastest pace since February. That trend is showing up here too, but unevenly.