Daily Market Brief — Friday, September 25, 2026

Executive Summary\n\nNew home sales increased 6.4% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000, according to the latest government data [3]. At the same time, the median price of new homes fell 5.8% year over year while the inventory of unsold new homes held steady at 8.5 months of supply [1]. These opposing trends suggest that price adjustments are beginning to stimulate demand even as affordability remains a concern.\n\nThe National Association of Home Builders launched its 2026 Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall yesterday, with Chairman Bill Owens presiding over the opening ceremony [2]. Builders and industry leaders are using the event to display cutting‑edge construction techniques and smart‑home technologies that aim to meet buyer expectations for connectivity and energy efficiency [7]. A free, two‑part webinar hosted by the NAHB Leading Suppliers Council on Monday, Sept. 28 will dive deeper into what’s next for smart homes and attainable housing [7].\n\nHomebuilders are confronting tougher land‑underwriting math as they look ahead to 2027‑2029; the Acres platform now covers more than 1,000 metros and 3,000 counties, drawing on 155 million parcel records to inform lot selection and pricing [5]. Meanwhile, credit unions originated only a tiny fraction of the 36,000 reverse mortgages issued in the past year, underscoring a gap in the market for senior‑focused financing [4]. In California, Costa Mesa’s city council approved 2,300 new homes, though the state requires the jurisdiction to plan for 11,760 units by 2029 or risk penalties [8].\n\n## 1. Top Stories\n\n**Builders cut prices as new home supply holds at 8.5 months** — Median price fell 5.8% year over year and supply held at 8.5 months as buydowns remain entrenched [1]\n\n**NAHB Helps Kick Off Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall** — NAHB Chairman Bill Owens was on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., yesterday to help open the 2026 Innovative Housing Showcase, an annual event presented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) [2]\n\n**New Home Sales Rise as Affordability Challenges Continue** — Sales of newly built single-family homes increased 6.4% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000, following an upwardly revised July estimate [3]\n\n**Why credit unions are missing the boat on reverse mortgage demand** — Credit unions originated very few of the 36,000 reverse mortgages in the past 12 months, executives told ACUMA attendees [4]\n\n**Land strategy math gets tougher for homebuilders in 2027–2029** — Acres says its expanded platform covers 1,000-plus metros and 3,000-plus counties using 155 million parcel records [5]\n\n**NAHB Mourns the Passing of Past Chairman Tom Woods** — Tom Woods, 2015 NAHB chairman, passed away on Monday, Sept. 21. A Blue Springs, Mo.-based home builder and its former mayor, Woods served as president of Woods Custom Homes [6]\n\n**Discover What’s Next for Smart Homes and Attainable Housing** — The smart home is entering a new era and builders have an opportunity to get ahead of what home owners will expect next. Join the NAHB Leading Suppliers Council for a free, two-part webinar on Monday, Sept. 28, to get a [7]\n\n**Costa Mesa okays 2,300 homes as California pursues its lawsuit** — The state requires Costa Mesa to plan for 11,760 homes by 2029, or face potential penalties and zoning limits [8]\n\n## 2. Market Analysis\n\n### Mortgage Rates\nToday's sources did not provide specific mortgage rate levels, so week‑over‑week direction cannot be determined from the available information.\n\n### Housing & Economy\nMedian new home price fell 5.8% year over year [1]. Months of supply for new homes held at 8.5 months [1]. New home sales rose 6.4% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000 [3]. Days on market were not detailed in today's sources.\n\n### Fed, Rates & Policy\nThe brief did not include Federal Reserve policy cues, treasury yields, or inflation metrics, so Fed expectations cannot be drawn from today's data.\n\n### Industry & Compliance\nCredit unions originated very few of the 36,000 reverse mortgages issued in the past year, highlighting limited participation in this senior lending segment [4]. The NAHB Innovative Housing Showcase opened on the National Mall yesterday, featuring Chairman Bill Owens and a focus on innovative construction and smart‑home technologies [2][7]. Former NAHB Chairman Tom Woods passed away on Sept. 21, prompting tributes from the home‑building community [6]. HouseCanary’s bankruptcy proceedings continue after a $30 million loan default, with a pending final judgment linked to a $175M+ verdict against Rocket Close [9][13]. Competing rent ordinances in Chicago are heading for a showdown that will test the balance between renter protections and housing supply incentives [10]. Title search and examination remain largely manual despite automation potential, as trust and liability keep humans in the loop [11]. Concerns over outliving assets are growing among non‑retirees, most of whom find the idea of no regular paycheck unsettling [12]. Discussions around a new MLS ‘constitution’ are underway as Hive MLS CEO Daniel Jones challenges leaders on private listing strategies and data ownership [14].\n\n## 3. Market Snapshot\n| Metric | Value | Change | Period |\n|--------|-------|--------|--------|\n| Median New Home Price (YoY) | -5.8% | N/A | YoY [1] |\n| Months of Supply (New Homes) | 8.5 months | N/A | Current [1] |\n| New Home Sales (SAAR) | 684,000 | +6.4% | August 2026 [3] |\n| Reverse Mortgages Past 12 Months | 36,000 | N/A | Past 12 months [4] |\n| Credit Union Share of Reverse Mortgages | Very few | N/A | Past 12 months [4] |\n| Acres Platform Metro Coverage | 1,000+ metros | N/A | 2027‑2029 outlook [5] |\n| Acres Platform County Coverage | 3,000+ counties | N/A | 2027‑2029 outlook [5] |\n| Parcel Records in Acres Platform | 155 million | N/A | 2027‑2029 outlook [5] |\n| Costa Mesa Approved Homes | 2,300 | N/A | 2026 [8] |\n| California Required Homes for Costa Mesa by 2029 | 11,760 | N/A | 2029 [8] |\n| HouseCanary Loan Default | $30 million | N/A | Recent default [9][13] |\n\n## 4. By The Numbers\n| # | Statistic | Value | Source |\n|---|-----------|-------|--------|\n| 1 | Median new home price YoY change | -5.8% | [1] |\n| 2 | Months of supply for new homes | 8.5 months | [1] |\n| 3 | New home sales increase August | 6.4% | [3] |\n| 4 | New home sales SAAR August | 684,000 | [3] |\n| 5 | Total reverse mortgages past 12 months | 36,000 | [4] |\n| 6 | Acres platform metros covered | 1,000+ | [5] |\n| 7 | Acres platform counties covered | 3,000+ | [5] |\n| 8 | Parcel records in Acres platform | 155 million | [5] |\n| 9 | Costa Mesa approved homes | 2,300 | [8] |\n|10 | California required homes for Costa Mesa by 2029 | 11,760 | [8] |\n|11 | HouseCanary loan default | $30 million | [9][13] |\n|12 | HouseCanary verdict against Rocket Close | $175M+ | [13] |\n\n## 5. What Professionals Are Saying\n- NAHB Chairman Bill Owens emphasized the importance of innovative housing solutions at the showcase opening, noting that builders must adapt to evolving buyer expectations for technology and sustainability [2].\n- Industry experts at the ACUMA conference warned that credit unions have largely overlooked the reverse mortgage market, originating only a small fraction of the 36,000 loans issued in the past year [4].\n- Economists interpreting the August new‑home sales uptick said the 6.4% rise to 684,000 SAAR suggests that price adjustments are beginning to offset affordability headwinds [3].\n- Real‑estate analysts pointed out that the steady 8.5‑month supply of new homes gives builders room to negotiate price cuts while maintaining market balance [1].\n- Legal commentators on the HouseCanary bankruptcy noted the $30 million loan default and the pending $175M+ judgment illustrate the financial risks tied to mortgage‑technology litigation [9][13].\n- Urban planners in California highlighted Costa Mesa’s approval of 2,300 homes as a step toward meeting the state’s 11,760‑unit requirement, though additional construction will be needed to avoid penalties [8].\n- Technology forecasters previewing the NAHB Leading Suppliers Council webinar on smart homes said the session will explore emerging trends in home automation and energy management that builders can leverage to differentiate their offerings [7].\n- Housing policy observers noted that the competing Chicago rent ordinances are setting the stage for a broader debate on how to balance tenant protections with incentives for new construction [10].\n\n## 6. Action Plan For Today\n\n### For Loan Officers\n- Use the 6.4% increase in new home sales to talk with clients about improving affordability due to price cuts [3].\n- Highlight the 5.8% year‑over‑year median price drop and the steady 8.5‑month inventory as opportunities to negotiate purchase prices [1].\n- Discuss reverse mortgage options and note that credit unions have originated very few of the 36,000 loans, suggesting potential for specialty lenders to fill the gap [4].\n- Reference the NAHB Innovative Housing Showcase and the upcoming smart‑home webinar to educate buyers on emerging technology benefits [2][7].\n- Leverage land‑strategy data showing coverage of 1,000+ metros and 3,000+ counties to identify lot availability and pricing trends in target markets [5].\n\n### For Real Estate Agents\n- Promote the price reductions in new construction as a selling point, citing the 5.8% median price decline [1].\n- Use the new home sales uptick of 6.4% to show buyers that demand is responding to more attractive pricing [3].\n- Explain the limited reverse mortgage offerings from credit unions and suggest alternative financing routes for senior clients [4].\n- Point to Costa Mesa’s approval of 2,300 homes and the state’s 11,760‑unit requirement as a sign of growing inventory in California markets [8].\n- Invite clients to the NAHB Leading Suppliers Council webinar on Monday, Sept. 28 to learn about smart‑home features that can add value to a purchase [7].\n- Use the Acres platform’s extensive metro and county coverage to provide clients with data‑driven insights on lot selection and future development patterns [5].\n\n## 7. Looking Ahead\n- Monday, Sept. 28: NAHB Leading Suppliers Council free two‑part webinar on smart homes and attainable housing [7].\n- Ongoing: Monitor the HouseCanary bankruptcy case in New Jersey court for updates on the $30 million loan default and the pending $175M+ judgment [9][13].\n- Ongoing: Follow the Chicago competing rent ordinances as they head toward a showdown that could reshape local rental policy [10].\n- Ongoing: Track builder responses to the 8.5‑month new‑home supply and price adjustments as they affect market dynamics through the fall [1].\n\n## 8. Bottom Line\nToday’s data reveal that builders are cutting prices amid a persistent 8.5‑month supply, while new home sales rose 6.4% to 684,000, showing that affordability gains are beginning to stimulate demand [1][3]. Loan officers should emphasize price reductions and buydown options, and agents can highlight the growing new‑home pipeline to buyers. The dominant takeaway is that price flexibility is unlocking sales momentum despite broader affordability headwinds.