Published October 25, 2026 in Market Update

Primary Market is still moving fast, even with rates above 7%

By Trish Round

Real estate, Primary Market

Rates crossed back above 7% for the first time since January 2025, according to Realtor.com. That is real. But demand here did not fold. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,328 homes sold across this market in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 7.4% from the same months last year. Pending sales came in at 1,379, up 9.2%. Buyers are still showing up. Pricing and prep matter more now, not less.

Nationally, Realtor.com reported a median of 62 days on market for homes sold recently. Here, most ZIP codes are selling in under 10 days. That gap tells you this market is running on a different clock than the country at large.

How each area stacked up

Not every ZIP moved the same way. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted for each area in the three months ending August 31, 2026.

Speed: most homes went fast

The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked how many homes went under contract within two weeks of listing. In most of these ZIP codes, more than half did. That is the clearest sign buyers are ready when a well-priced home hits the market.

Above list price: still common in most areas

The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed that in most ZIP codes here, a meaningful share of homes sold above list price. In 49505, it was 52.7%. In Jenison, 47.6%. That does not happen in markets where buyers have the upper hand.

Where prices moved

Some areas saw prices dip a little. Ada slipped 4.6% and West Olive dropped 6.8%, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Grand Haven eased 1.5%. Grand Rapids 49505 dipped 1.7%. Rockford held flat. The rest of the ZIP codes were up, with 49525 leading at 13% growth. Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home prices up just 1.3% in September 2026. Most areas here outpaced that.

The rate reality

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.32% on October 22, 2026. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.68%. Realtor.com showed an average of 7.40% on the same date. These are not low rates. But the pending sales count here, 1,379 in the three months ending August 31, 2026, tells you buyers are making peace with them. Some are buying now and planning to refinance later. Some just need to move.

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors counted 3.99 million existing-home sales in September 2026, with inventory at 1.60 million homes. Realtor.com reported September pending home sales down 11.3% year over year nationally. This market's pending sales went the other direction, up 9.2%. That is a real difference.

One note on West Olive

West Olive (49460) reads differently from the rest. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed a median of 37 days on market there, the slowest of any ZIP here, and only 25.7% of homes went under contract within two weeks. The median sale price slipped 6.8% to $600,000. Sales volume jumped 73.7%, so things are moving, just on a longer timeline. If you have a home there, that context matters when you pick your number.