Spring Housing Market Activity Surges with 4.5% Increase in Contract Signings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 21 2026
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Contract Signing Growth: In April 2026, contract signings increased by 4.5% year-over-year, marking the highest level in three years, indicating a resurgence in market activity as competitively priced listings attracted buyers, driving market dynamics.
- New Listings Performance: New listings rose by 1.4% year-over-year and were 22% above the 2023 trough, demonstrating that sellers are pricing realistically, which has encouraged buyer engagement and facilitated market recovery.
- Market Activity Analysis: Among the top 50 metros, 34 have seen year-to-date contract signings increase, reflecting widespread market recovery, particularly in the Midwest, with significant growth in contract signings in cities like Kansas City and Louisville.
- Pricing Adjustment Trends: The national median list price per square foot fell by 2.4% year-over-year, yet the share of listings with price cuts also decreased, indicating that sellers are adopting more realistic pricing strategies, thereby reducing the need for subsequent price reductions and promoting healthy market development.
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About NWS
News Corporation is a diversified media and information services company. Its Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company's interest in REA Group and Move. REA Group is a digital media business specializing in property and property-related services on its Websites and mobile apps. Move is a provider of digital real estate services in the United States and primarily operates Realtor.com, a real estate information, advertising and services platform, its referral-based services, online tools and services to do-it-yourself landlords and tenants. Its Dow Jones segment includes Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels. Its Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, a consumer book publisher with operations in 15 countries. Its News Media segment consists of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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