East Valley Housing Market Update: More Inventory, Steady Prices, and Higher Mortgage Rates

Brad Daniels

Oct 6

3 min read

East Valley housing market update for October 5, 2026, with an illustrated Arizona neighborhood and desert mountains.

Market snapshot: October 5, 2026 | By Brad Daniels, Realtor® | 602-679-1025 The East Valley housing market is giving buyers more homes to compare, while higher mortgage rates make the monthly payment increasingly important. For sellers, pricing and presentation deserve close attention as the competition grows.

The October 5 snapshot from ⁠The Cromford Report shows a broader Phoenix-area market with more available inventory and fewer homes under contract than a month ago. Sale prices, however, have remained relatively steady.

These figures cover Cromford’s “All Areas & Types” market snapshot. They provide context for East Valley buyers and sellers, while individual cities, neighborhoods, and price ranges can behave differently.

Available inventory has increased

Cromford recorded 26,127 active listings excluding UCB/CCBS contract statuses on October 5. That is approximately 8.1% more than September 5 and 4.3% more than a year earlier.

Months of supply rose to 4.9, up from 3.9 last month and 4.0 a year ago. This measure reflects how much inventory is available relative to the recent sales pace.

For buyers, additional inventory creates more opportunities to compare condition, location, and price. For sellers, it means paying attention to the homes a buyer could choose instead of yours.

Email Brad Daniels to request a personalized home value estimate.

Fewer homes are under contract

The snapshot shows 6,174 listings under contract, down approximately 11.6% from a month earlier and 9.8% from October 5, 2025.

This counts homes currently under contract; it does not measure how many new contracts were signed during the month. Even so, more available listings and fewer homes under contract suggest buyers have gained negotiating room.

That opportunity depends on the property. A home that has been sitting with little activity may offer more flexibility than a newly listed home priced competitively.

Sale prices remain relatively steady

Cromford’s monthly-sales median was $450,000, compared with $447,995 last month and $454,900 a year ago. That is a small monthly increase and an annual decline of approximately 1.1%.

The annual-sales median also remained $450,000, matching the year-earlier figure.

Another useful detail: the median time on market for sold homes was 60 days, compared with 63 last month and 64 a year ago. More inventory doesn't mean every successful sale is taking longer.

When I help a seller evaluate pricing, I compare recent closed sales with the active competition. Together, they show what buyers have paid and what they can choose today.

Mortgage rates make the payment more important

Illustration of a homebuyer comparing mortgage options with a laptop, calculator, and model Arizona home.

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Freddie Mac’s October 1 survey reported an average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of

7.28%, up from 7.03% the previous week and 6.34% a year earlier.

These are national averages, and individual quotes depend on the borrower, loan, and lender.

For buyers, this is a reason to refresh financing estimates before making an offer. A seller-paid closing-cost credit or rate buydown may provide useful payment relief, but compare it with a price reduction using actual lender figures.

What this means for your East Valley move

Selling a home: Review the listings competing directly with yours. Address presentation and condition concerns, make showings accessible, and choose an asking price supported by current evidence.

Buying a home: Compare the total monthly cost, including taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and financing. Consider concessions where the property and seller’s circumstances support them.

Relocating to Arizona: Compare Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, and Apache Junction based on your budget, commute, and preferred home style. Nearby builder inventory and incentives may also affect your choices.

If you are considering a move, I can help you look beyond the broad market numbers and evaluate the homes, neighborhoods, and costs that matter to you.

Brad Daniels, Realtor® | My Home Group | ⁠RelocateToAZ.com | 602-679-1025

Sources: The Cromford Report, All Areas & Types snapshot dated October 5, 2026; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey dated October 1, 2026. Percentage changes calculated from the Cromford snapshot.