September 24, 2026: the fall market is at its selection peak. Ohio REALTORS holds statewide sales at 12,723 with a $285,000 median, the latest Freddie Mac survey put the 30-year rate at 6.95%, and Summit and Cuyahoga counties are still moving homes quickly. Here is the update for buyers, sellers, and relocating families.
What changed this week.
Rates held steady. Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the 30-year fixed at 6.95% for the week ending September 17, up from 6.76% the prior week. Since this update published, Freddie Mac's newest survey put the 30-year at 7.03% for the week ending September 24, and Ohio REALTORS has released its August statewide report: 11,718 sales, about 4% below a year earlier, with the statewide median holding near $285,000. For the fuller picture, see the Columbus Day Weekend guide. Nationally, Redfin reported pending sales at a near three-year low for the four weeks ending September 13; in Northeast Ohio the effect is subtle, with fewer bidding wars and well-priced homes still going pending in days.
Ohio REALTORS July Report: Still the Baseline
Ohio held its momentum through July: 12,723 homes sold statewide, up 2.5% year over year, the median at $285,000, up 3.6%, and active listings at 39,641, about 3.7 months of supply. Sales, prices, and inventory moving together is the signature of a healthy market.
Mortgage Rates: Holding Near 6.95%
This is stabilization, not a spike. The 30-year fixed averaged 6.95% for the week ending September 17, up from 6.26% a year ago. On a $300,000 mortgage that is roughly $40 a month more than mid-September. What matters is whether the payment fits your budget, not guessing where rates go next.
Median Home Prices by County
Here is where median sale prices stand across the counties I track, based on the most recent complete data:
Summit County is the tightest market in the region: $250,000, 19 days on market, a 100% sale-to-list ratio, and about 1.61 months of supply. Cuyahoga County keeps setting records: the H1 2026 suburban median of $236,400 is up 7% year over year, and Zillow's typical value at $223,555, up 3.4%, has homes going pending in about 11 days. Medina County holds at $307,000 to $330,000, with Zillow's value near $307,000 and Redfin's trailing median near $330,000 at about 22 days on market.
Inventory: The Fall Peak Continues
The listing surge is still building. New inventory traditionally crests in late September and early October, so the next two to three weeks offer the deepest selection of the year. Cleveland metro supply sits at about 3.2 months versus 4.7 nationally, and Medina and Summit remain tighter still.
What This Means For You
If You Are Buying
The selection is at its deepest point of the year. Summit still requires speed; Medina and Cuyahoga allow due diligence. If you are pre-approved at current rates and the payment works, move when the right home appears instead of waiting on the next rate survey.
If You Are Selling
The next few weeks draw the most serious buyers of the season. Homes priced on real comparables and presented well are still going pending in days to weeks.
If You Are Relocating
A $285,000 statewide median buys a home that costs $500,000 or more in most coastal metros, and the fall window offers the widest selection before the holidays.
The Bottom Line
Hold-steady rates, sustainable price growth, and the year's deepest inventory define September 2026. Use real data, not headlines, and act while the window is open.
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