Southeast Michigan Housing Market Update — September 2026

Every month I break down what's actually happening in the Metro Detroit market — real numbers, not headlines — so you know what your home is worth and what to expect if you're buying. Here's what August's closings tell us.

The headline: a steady market, with prices off July's peak

The median sale price across Metro Detroit was $337,500 in August — up 1.5% from $332,500 a year ago, but down about 3% from July's 2026 high, according to the latest RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan housing report. Sales were almost exactly flat: 4,282 homes sold versus 4,295 last August. The average home took 26 days to sell, two days longer than a year ago, and the region now has about three months of supply, up from 2.8. One number worth watching: pending sales were up 4.8% from last year, which points to a decent September.

County by county

Livingston County was the standout: the median jumped 11.4% to $439,000, from $394,000 a year ago, and sales climbed 32% (301 homes vs. 229). Wayne County gained 3.1% to $230,000, though sales slipped 4.9%. Oakland County rose 2.6% to $395,000 with sales down 1.3%. Macomb County held flat at $280,000 and was the only one of the big three to sell more homes than last year — 987 versus 974. The city of Detroit went the other way: the median fell to $92,500 from $110,000, and sales dropped 13% (366 vs. 421).

Mortgage rates: climbing again

The 30-year fixed averaged 6.95% on September 17 per Freddie Mac — up from 6.76% the week before and 6.66% at the end of August. A year ago it was 6.26%. The 15-year sits at 6.26%. Nobody can promise where rates go next, but here's what I tell my clients: you buy the house, you date the rate. If rates drop later, you refinance; if they rise, you locked in today's price.

What this means if you're selling

A steady market is not a forgiving one. As the RE/MAX report put it, well-priced, move-in ready homes are attracting strong interest and selling quickly, while overpriced homes or those needing significant updates are sitting longer — and pricing and presentation matter more than ever as sellers compete to stand out. Fall usually brings one last push from motivated buyers before things slow toward year-end, so if you want to sell in 2026, the window is now. The playbook: prep the house before listing and price from real comps, not from July's headline number. If you want to know what your home would actually sell for right now, I'll run the comps for you free — no pressure, no obligation.

What this means if you're buying

Three months of supply and homes averaging 26 days on market means less frenzy and more negotiating room — especially on listings that have sat past the two-week mark. Yes, 6.95% stings, and it changes what payment a given price works out to, so re-run your numbers before you shop. But higher rates also thin out your competition, and a rate dip will bring the crowds back fast. Get pre-approved and ready, target the homes with a little market time on them, and you can win deals that weren't possible two years ago.

Sources: RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan August 2026 Housing Report (as reported by DBusiness, September 14, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, September 17, 2026. Market data reflects August 2026 closings in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.