Post-holiday pending sales rebound exposes regional divides

The U.S. housing market is showing clear signs of a post-holiday recovery. Pending home sales climbed to 50,096 new contracts this week, a 25.7% increase from last week’s 39,841, as buyer activity rebounds from the typical holiday slowdown.

The increase in buyer activity, combined with shifting market dynamics, signals a return to more typical activity levels after the holiday period.

The post-holiday numbers

Coming off the holidays, housing markets typically experience reduced activity as buyers and sellers ease back into the market. This week’s 10,255-contract increase represents a substantial week-over-week gain in buyer activity.

Key metrics from the latest data:

• Pending sales: 50,096 new contracts (up 25.7% from the previous week)
• Absorbed properties: 64,572 homes sold or removed from the market
• Net market flow: 14,476 more properties absorbed than newly pending
• National relisting rate: 10.4% of active listings

Regional activity picture

The pending sales rebound varies significantly across major markets.

High-absorption markets:

• Dallas-Fort Worth: 2,188 absorbed vs. 1,524 new pending contracts
• Houston: 2,027 absorbed vs. 1,395 new pending contracts
• Atlanta: 1,695 absorbed vs. 1,167 new pending contracts

More balanced markets:

• Kansas City: 512 new pending contracts vs. 460 absorbed
• Washington, D.C.: 509 absorbed vs. 513 new pending contracts

What this shows: Markets tightening faster can put upward pressure on pricing and shorten time on market, while more balanced markets tend to see buyer activity return more evenly.

Relisting activity and market friction

Relisting rates across major metros reveal varying levels of market friction.

High relisting markets:

• Nashville: 27.5% of listings are relisted
• Chicago: 22.5% relisted
• Atlanta: 21.6% relisted
• Houston: 19.8% relisted

Relisting rates above 10% can indicate:

• Pricing adjustments: Homes cycling through with updated pricing
• Contract issues: Deals falling through and homes returning to the market
• Market recalibration: Sellers adjusting to current conditions

What this shows: High relisting rates reflect different underlying dynamics across local markets. In metros such as Atlanta and Houston, relisting activity is accompanied by frequent price increases followed by price cuts, a pricing pattern commonly associated with investor-driven listings that test higher price points before adjusting when demand fails to materialize. By contrast, markets like Nashville and Chicago show high relisting rates with limited price-increase activity, pointing instead to pricing resistance in cost-burdened environments.

Understanding the market signals

What the pending sales data shows:

• Buyer activity is returning: The 25.7% jump indicates buyers are actively reengaging after the holiday period.
• Market momentum is building: This marks the third consecutive week of pending sales increases, suggesting activity is sustained rather than one-time.
• Regional variation remains high: Markets are showing different patterns of buyer engagement and inventory clearance.

Market context for client conversations

Buyer activity

• Buyer engagement has increased following the holiday slowdown, though conditions vary significantly by market.
• Markets where pending sales and absorption are closely aligned are seeing steadier transaction flow than those clearing inventory more aggressively.

Pricing and market friction

• Elevated relisting rates suggest pricing remains a key challenge in several metros, with listings more likely to return to the market after initial attempts.
• Higher relisting activity is often associated with longer transaction timelines and greater price sensitivity.

Regional variation

• Markets with strong absorption are clearing inventory efficiently, while others are showing signs of pricing resistance despite active buyer interest.
• Local market dynamics continue to play a larger role than national trends in shaping transaction outcomes.

The bottom line

Pending home sales rose 25.7% this week as the housing market moved past the holiday slowdown. Inventory continues to clear efficiently, though elevated relisting rates in several metros suggest pricing and deal execution remain key factors.

HousingWire used HW Data to source this story. This analysis is based on HW Data tracking of single-family pending sales, absorption (homes sold or removed from the market) and relisting activity across U.S. markets. Data is through Jan. 17, 2026. To see what’s happening in your own local market, generate housing market reports. For enterprise clients looking to license the same market data at a larger scale, visit HW Data.