Summary

• The National Association of Realtors (NAR) pending home sales index jumped 3.8% in May to 76.8, marking its fourth consecutive monthly gain and highest level in six months.
• The index for the most recent month is currently 40% below its all-time high from August 2020, while the population-adjusted index is 48% off its high from April 2005.
• According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage in May 2026 was 6.44%, the highest level since last August.

By Jennifer Nash

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) pending home sales index jumped 3.8% in May to 76.8, marking its fourth consecutive monthly gain and highest level in six months. This surge represents the largest monthly increase for