Published October 1, 2026 in Market Update

Inventory is tighter here than the national market

By Jasmin Bradley

Real estate, Primary market

The National Association of Realtors reported 4.9 months of supply nationally, the highest level in over ten years. Every ZIP code the Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked here came in below that, from 2.3 months to 4.6 months for the three months ending July 31, 2026. Less competition on the shelf is real, even if the overall pace of sales has slowed.

ZIP 30809, which covers the Evans and Martinez side of Columbia County, had just 2.3 months of supply. The Real Estate Data Aggregator also counted 313 homes sold there, and homes for sale dropped 29.1% from the same period last year. That is a meaningful tightening, not a small move.

Sales are down across the market, and pending sales fell 22.9% year over year. That part is real, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. But fewer new listings, down 5.5% overall, means the pool of competing homes is also shrinking. A well-priced home still has room to stand out.

Rates just crossed back above 7%

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.03% as of September 24, 2026. Realtor.com noted that is the first reading above 7% since January 2025. The 10-year Treasury yield hit 5.11% that same week, a 19-year high according to Realtor.com. Rates at this level slow buyer decisions. That is part of why pending sales are down. Price your home to where buyers can still make the math work.

Quick contracts are actually up in most ZIPs

Here is the part that surprised me. Even with slower overall demand, the share of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing jumped in every ZIP the Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked. In 30809, 36.4% of homes went under contract within two weeks. In 30907, 34.6% did. Those shares are up 31.2 and 28.8 points respectively from the same period last year. The right home at the right price is still moving fast.

Prices moved in both directions

Most ZIP codes saw median prices dip a little. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put 30815 down 12.6% year over year, the biggest drop in the market. On the other side, 30809 was up 3.5% and 30904 was up 6.3%. These ZIPs are not the same market. What happened in one ZIP does not tell you what your home is worth in another.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Some ZIP codes here beat that. Some did not. Local conditions are doing their own thing.