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The Finance Base
Ada County real estate

Rising Mortgage Rates Haven’t Stopped Boise-Area Home Sales—But Affordability Is Still a Concern

Ada County recorded more home sales and pending contracts in August 2026 than a year earlier. The numbers show continued activity, not that mortgage rates stopped affecting affordability.

By TheFinanceBase Team 3 min read
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Ada County home sales and pending sales were higher year over year in August 2026 even as mortgage rates remained elevated. That shows continued market activity, not that higher borrowing costs have stopped affecting buyers—or that every household can afford to buy.

What the latest Ada County numbers show

Boise Regional REALTORS (BRR) reported 955 single-family homes sold in Ada County in August 2026, 14.8% more than in August 2025. Pending sales—homes under contract at the end of the month—totaled 1,269, up 11.2% year over year. These figures are evidence of continued transaction activity, but they do not directly measure online interest, buyer inquiries, or why individual households chose to participate.

The market indicators point in different directions depending on what they measure. Sales count completed transactions; pending sales offer a snapshot of contracts awaiting closing; prices, inventory, and time on market describe other aspects of conditions.

Ada County single-family measure August 2026 Year over year Month over month
Homes sold 955 +14.8% +0.8%
Pending sales at month-end 1,269 +11.2% -8.2%
Overall median sales price $595,000 +6.9% -1.2%
Homes in inventory at month-end 1,979 -10.6% +0.2%
Months of supply 2.4 Not stated in BRR’s August 2026 stat sheet Not stated in BRR’s August 2026 stat sheet
Average days on market 37 -9.8% +8.8%

Source for the table: BRR’s August 2026 Ada County stat sheet, based on Intermountain MLS data as of September 9, 2026. BRR defines year-over-year as comparison with the same month a year earlier, and month-over-month as comparison with the previous month. The source cautions that MLS statistics are not guaranteed to represent every property sale in the county.

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What mortgage-rate information is available

BRR’s June 2026 market report said the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose from 6.48% to 6.52% in mid-June. That is a dated June observation, not an August or October rate. The August market figures and June rate context can show that activity continued amid elevated borrowing costs, but they do not establish the rate buyers actually received or paid.

Mortgage rates generally respond to longer-term bond markets and expectations about inflation and future Federal Reserve policy. The Federal Reserve controls short-term borrowing rates; it does not directly set mortgage rates. Higher mortgage rates generally reduce a buyer’s purchasing power because financing the same home costs more.

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Why rising rates and stronger sales can coexist

A county can record more sales while some buyers are priced out, reduce their budget, or delay a purchase. The August figures do not identify which buyers remained active or explain their decisions. BRR’s reports describe concurrent market measures; they do not isolate the effect of mortgage rates from inventory, the mix of homes sold, location, or other demand factors. It would be too strong to conclude that rates had no effect simply because sales rose year over year.

Why the countywide picture is not every buyer’s market

Resale and new homes had different prices and inventory trends

The August median sales price was $579,900 for resale homes and $629,000 for new homes, compared with $595,000 overall. Of 955 homes sold, 658 were resale homes and 297 were new homes. At month-end, inventory comprised 991 resale homes and 988 new homes. Compared with July, resale inventory fell 7.1% while new-home inventory rose 8.7%. A shift in the types of properties available or sold can affect the overall figures.

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Conditions varied by location

BRR reported average days on market of 22 in Boise and 47 in Star in August. The countywide average of 37 days therefore does not describe every city or neighborhood equally. A buyer’s options and pace may depend on the specific location and price range they are considering.

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How to read the next market update

  • Check the report month and data date before treating a number as current; the August stat sheet uses MLS data as of September 9, 2026.
  • Compare the same geography and property segment over consistent periods. Ada County single-family statistics should not be presented as figures for Boise city or the entire Treasure Valley.
  • Read completed sales alongside pending sales, inventory, months of supply, and days on market. Each captures a different part of the market.
  • For an affordability decision, use a current quote and compare loan estimates for your own down payment, credit profile, taxes, insurance, and loan terms; a market average is not an individual rate or payment.

BRR’s figures are based primarily on public Intermountain MLS statistics gathered by agents from owners or their representatives. BRR cautions that the figures are not guaranteed and are not intended to represent the total number of properties sold in a county or city, so they are best read as market indicators rather than a complete census.

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