Published October 3, 2026 in Market Update

Higher rates are not cooling every part of this market

By Debra Hayne

Real estate, Primary market

Rates crossed 7% again in late September, according to Realtor.com. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed average at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. That is real pressure on buyers. But the three months ending July 31, 2026 tell a more complicated story here at home.

ZIP 21043 is the clearest example. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median sale price of $650,000 there, up 13.5% from the same three months in 2025. Homes sold in 19 days at the midpoint. More than half, 51.7%, sold above list price.

That kind of price growth does not happen in a market where buyers have walked away. It happens when there are more buyers than homes.

How each ZIP code stacked up

The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked the three months ending July 31, 2026 across every ZIP code in this market. Prices moved in different directions. Some areas held firm. Others gave a little ground.

Not every ZIP code saw prices climb. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed ZIP 21133 down 9.4%, ZIP 21046 down 7%, ZIP 21784 down 4.1%, ZIP 21776 down 4.8%, ZIP 21075 down 3.6%, and ZIP 21702 down 3.1% compared with the same three months in 2025. ZIP 21157 was up just 2.8%, and ZIP 21117 up 1.5%. ZIP 21211 was essentially flat, down 0.3%.

So some parts of this market softened a little. That is worth knowing. But even in the ZIP codes where prices dipped, homes are still selling. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 54 homes sold in ZIP 21133 and 141 in ZIP 21117 during those three months.

Speed: most homes are still moving quickly

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales fell 2.0% in August 2026. The months' supply of homes for sale hit 4.9 months, the highest level in over ten years. That is the national picture.

This market looks different. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put months of supply at 1.2 months in ZIP 21784 and just 1.0 month in ZIP 21046. ZIP 21042 sat at 1.3 months. ZIP 17214 was at 0.4 months. Those are tight numbers, even with rates where they are.

ZIP 17331 had the fastest pace at 12 days. ZIP 21042 was close behind at 14 days. ZIP 21702 was the slowest at 43 days, followed by ZIP 21701 at 36 days. Days on market did tick up in most ZIP codes compared with a year ago, which is honest. But 19 or 20 days is still fast.

Homes selling above list price

In ZIP 21784, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 54.4% of homes sold above list price in the three months ending July 31, 2026. That share rose 6.5 points from a year before. ZIP 21042 was at 54.3%. ZIP 21043 was at 51.7%.

ZIP 21776 was on the lower end at 30.8%, down 26.3 points from a year ago. ZIP 21701 was at 31.2%. Those ZIP codes saw more sellers come to terms at or below their asking price.

The rate backdrop

Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.60%. Realtor.com noted rates crossed 7% in late September for the first time since January 2025.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. That is a modest national gain. Several ZIP codes in this market outpaced it by a wide margin.

Realtor.com also reported active listings nationally rose 6.3% from a year ago, and price cuts hit their highest September readings since 2018. That is the national trend. Parts of this market are running counter to it.

What this means if you own a home here

Higher rates have slowed some ZIP codes and left others almost untouched. The difference often comes down to supply. ZIP 21046 had just 16 homes for sale. ZIP 17214 had 1. When there is almost nothing to buy, buyers compete.

Where inventory has grown, like ZIP 21701 with 181 homes for sale and ZIP 21702 with 150, buyers have more options. Homes take longer and sellers get closer to, or just under, list price.

All numbers above cover the three months ending July 31, 2026, as counted by the Real Estate Data Aggregator. The rate figures come from Freddie Mac as of October 1, 2026. National figures come from the National Association of Realtors, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Realtor.com, as noted.