NAR said pending sales rose monthly in the Northeast, Midwest and South and fell in the West. Year-over-year gains appeared only in the Midwest and South.

WASHINGTON — Pending home sales in October increased by 1.9% from the prior month and fell 0.4% year over year, according to the National Association of Realtors® Pending Home Sales Report. The report provides the real estate ecosystem, including agents and homebuyers and sellers, with data on the level of home sales under contract.

Month-over-month pending home sales rose in the Northeast, Midwest and South, and declined in the West. Year-over-year pending home sales increased in the Midwest and South and decreased in the Northeast and West.

October's Realtors® Confidence Index survey shows that 17% of NAR members expect an increase in buyer traffic over the next three months, down from 20% in September and 19% one year ago. Meanwhile, 16% expect an increase in seller traffic, down from 19% last month and 19% in October 2024.

"The Midwest shined above other regions due to better affordability, while contract signings retreated in the more expensive West region," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Days on the market typically lengthen from November through February, providing better negotiating power to buyers during the holiday season."

"Job gains in September, following the data blackout, are reassuring and suggest the economy is not slipping into a recession," Yun added. "This may boost confidence in future homebuying."

October 2025 national pending home sales
1.9% increase month over month
0.4% decline year over year
October 2025 regional pending home sales

Northeast

2.3% increase month over month
1.0% decrease year over year
Midwest

5.3% increase month over month
0.9% increase year over year

South

1.4% increase month over month
2.0% increase year over year

West

1.5% decrease month over month
7.0% decrease year over year
The percent of change in pending home sales is based on the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on home-contract signings. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.

© 2025 National Association of Realtors® (NAR)