Toss out your one-size-fits-all real estate predictions; the Q2 2026 Buy-Side Index just unveiled some real whoppers about the housing market. What we're seeing isn't your typical year-over-year growth across the board. Nope, we're seeing splits as sharp as a knife between states. Some places are shooting up in price, while others seem to be stuck in mud.
Price Surges and Plummets
New York Tops the Stack; Others Lag
New York is the shining star here, clocking in at a 7.4% price increase, pushing its median to a hefty $553K. Meanwhile, folks out in Vermont and Oregon are singing a different tune with prices dipping by 2% and 1.4%, respectively. It's a wild ride and a sharp split, especially considering we're looking at the same data year over year.
"The Q1 edition established the baseline," said Dave Peters, President at Agent Pronto. "Q2 shows where that baseline is holding and where it is breaking."
And it is breaking, no doubt about it. New Jersey and Pennsylvania looked bright, notching a 5.9% rise in prices. The data throws down the gauntlet, telling agents where they can snag deals and where they might get stuck holding the bag.
Supply and Demand Get Funky
Scarcity or Surplus?
Connecticut had the tightest squeeze with only 2.2 months of supply. That's a seller's market by any metric you care to use. Meanwhile, Hawaii kicked back, lounging in 'Buyer's Paradise' at a roomy 6-plus months of inventory. A stark mix between these extremes paints a complicated picture—whichever side of the transaction you're on, it's a different battlefield.
Things got even more interesting with Vermont, where active inventory shot up by nearly 16%. That’s not exactly the kind of growth that gives sellers or agents the warm fuzzies.
Days on Market: The Waiting Game
The Fast and the Frustrated
In Rhode Island, properties fly off the shelf in just 31 days, while in Montana, you’re looking at 85 days before a sale. Can you imagine how that feels, having your property sit there for nearly three months? That's a testament to regional demand discrepancies that make this entire arena a tangled mess.
North Carolina saw a 14-day hike in the median days on market from last year. It's these shifts that the savvy folks are eyeing to make their next move.
Volume Leaders Break Records
Texas and North Carolina Lay Down the Law
If there were a “Most Transactions in a Quarter” medal, it goes straight to Christopher Marti in Texas with 119 transactions. That's a monster number—shaking up the entire national dataset. Close behind were Tiffany Williamson in North Carolina and William Gabbard in Ohio. These folks aren’t just resting on their laurels; they’re setting the pace for everyone else.
- Christopher Marti, Texas: 119 transactions
- Tiffany Williamson, North Carolina: 115 transactions
- William Gabbard, Ohio: 111 transactions
As Alvaro Erize, CEO at CINC pointed out, consistent quarterly measurement adds layers of clarity. Each report stacks on the others, building a resource that's as operational as it is analytical.
So, what does all this mean for investors? Well, it's not the time to nap at your desk. Whether you're flipping properties or just holding your portfolio steady, the terrain requires an eagle-eye focus. The Buy-Side Index is showing pathways, but it's up to you to navigate the diverging roads ahead. Whether you're in a seller's haven or a buyer's jackpot, data is your compass, and this index is one tool you won't want to ignore.
