The national housing market closed January with little movement from week to week, but the latest data shows a market that is growing more and more due to regional differences rather than a single national trend.
Prices, inventory and time on market all point to stability at the national level, even if local conditions continue to diverge.
National conditions have not changed
I average list price in single-family homes held in e $419,999. Newly listed homes hit the market at a low rate the median price is $409,900shows continued price sensitivity among retailers bringing new inventory online.
Houses used a average 91 days on the marketat the rate of 133 dayshighlighting the wide differences between fast- and slow-moving local markets.
Total inventory remained low 696,222 housesa 0.2% down week on week. A pullback suggests that supply is stabilizing rather than purposefully tightening or loosening.
I Market Action Indicator (MAI) registered 34.0which shows a modest dealer profit nationally.
What is the Market Action Index? The MAI measures the balance between supply and demand by tracking how quickly homes are selling compared to inventory levels. Real estate professionals use the index to measure price strength, expected time on the market and average negotiation, as well as to compare momentum across regions and over time.
The intensity of the level provides an important context
“I expected the housing data to improve after the strong start we’ve already seen in 2026, but it stayed positive, which surprised me,” said a HousingWire analyst. Logan Mohtashami wrote this week’s Housing Market Tracker.
“The big key to that, of course, is that mortgage rates … are still close to 6% and haven’t shown much volatility,” he added.
That rate stability appears to support enough demand to prevent sharp asset accumulation or rapid deflation, even if regional conditions vary.
Regional disparities continue to grow
Northeast: Strongest seller-side conditions nationally, with an average price of $551,106i lowest share of price reduction (25.0%) as well as Highest Market Action Index (38.1). Households spend a median of 87 days on the marketfaster speed between states.
In the west: A high-priced property, with an average price of $616,570but slow profit. Used houses 101 days on the marketagain 29.8% of listings saw a price reduction, slightly below the national average.
South: Consumer-friendly conditions overall. Price reductions are affected 32.7% of listing, and the district sent i Lowest Market Action Index (33.0). Average days in the market came 92.
Midwest: A very affordable, moderately priced district $324,362paired with an unexpectedly strong career. The district sent a 37.4 Market Action Indexsecond after Northeast.
Why this week’s housing information is important
The market is stable across the country but increasingly uneven locally. Inventory declined throughout the week, and price reductions held close to long-term trends, a balance that shows signs of recovery instead.
The seller’s rating is focused. The Northeast and parts of the Midwest continue to show brisk sales and few price reductions, while Southern markets are seeing heavy discounting and subdued activity.
Pricing power varies by market. Expensive regions hold strong value despite long days on the market, while affordable regions offer buyers greater bargaining power.
The stability of the scale helps to hold the line. Mortgage rates near 6% support enough demand to limit sharp asset growth or deep deflation.
What to watch next
As the market enters February, experts will be watching to see if inventory remains stable and how upcoming labor data and bond market reactions influence mortgage rates.
For in-depth context on the rates, demand signals and major post-2026 housing activity trends, see Logan Mohtashami’s full weekly housing market analysis. HousingWire used HW Data for this story. Data is exhausted Jan. 30, 2026. To see what’s happening in your local market, do real estate market reports. For enterprise customers looking to license the same market data on a larger scale, visit HW Data.
