Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

Lower Cape listings rose, but inventory is still tight

By Eric Rollo

Real estate, Lower Cape

Here is the one thing that matters most right now. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 103 new listings across Lower Cape in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 14.4% from a year ago. But the total number of homes for sale fell 22.8% to just 88. New supply is coming in. It is just not stacking up.

Then Realtor.com reported that mortgage rates topped 7% in September 2026, the first time since January 2025. That keeps some buyers on the sideline, which sounds like good news for sellers. But it also means buyers who do show up are choosy. Price your home wrong and it sits.

Buyers are still moving. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 88 pending sales across Lower Cape in the same period, up 8.6% from a year ago. Demand did not disappear when rates climbed. It just got more focused on the right homes at the right price.

Each ZIP reads a little differently

Lower Cape covers three ZIP codes, and they do not all tell the same story. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator showed for each one in the three months ending August 31, 2026.

02653: More listings, faster sales

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 46 new listings in 02653, up 39.4% from a year ago. That is the biggest jump of the three ZIPs. Yet homes still moved fast. The median days on market was 25, which is 27 days shorter than the same period last year. Nearly 37% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing, up 27.1 points year over year. Prices dipped a little, down 2.6% to a median of $876,250. But sellers got 98.6% of their list price on average, up 3 points from last year.

02633: The quickest ZIP to sell

The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed a median of 20 days on market in 02633, the shortest of the three ZIPs. New listings held flat year over year at 49. Homes sold rose 12.1% to 37. Months of supply fell to 3.3, down 1.1 months from last year. Prices came down 4.5% to a median of $1,250,000. Still, nearly 44% of homes went under contract within two weeks. That is a fast-moving ZIP even with softer prices.

02650: Fewest homes, highest prices

02650 is the tightest ZIP. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 10 homes for sale, down 23.1% from a year ago, and only 8 new listings, flat year over year. With 12 homes sold and 2.6 months of supply, there is almost nothing to choose from. The median sale price jumped 13.1% to $2,375,000. One in three homes sold above list price, at 33.3%. The catch: only 11.1% went under contract within two weeks, down 22.2 points. At this price point, buyers take their time.

What rates at 7% mean for you

CNBC reported the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.48% as of October 13, 2026. Realtor.com noted rates crossed 7% in September 2026 for the first time since January 2025. Higher rates squeeze buyers' budgets. That puts more pressure on pricing. Homes priced right are still selling fast here. Homes priced too high are sitting.

One more thing. These are ZIP-wide numbers. One street can read very differently from the ZIP as a whole. If you want to know where your specific home stands, just reach out.