Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

East of the River buyers still face tight supply in several parts

Realtor.com reported that Northeast inventory rose 11.6% year over year. More choice sounds like good news for buyers. But the Real Estate Data Aggregator tells a different story in several parts of East of the River.

In the three months ending August 31, 2026, some ZIP codes here still had just 1 to 1.5 months of supply. That is very lean. And in some areas, more than 3 in 4 homes sold above list price. More listings nationally has not fully eased the pressure here.

Supply by ZIP code

ZIP 06074 had just 1 month of supply, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is the tightest in this market. It also dropped 0.4 months from a year before. Buyers there had very little to choose from.

ZIP 06118 and ZIP 06073 each sat at 1.2 and 1.5 months, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 06042 and ZIP 06040 also came in at 1.5 months. All four are firmly in seller territory.

ZIP 06033 and ZIP 06108 had a little more room, at 1.6 and 2 months. ZIP 06447 also reached 2 months, up 0.8 months from a year ago. That is the biggest year-over-year gain in this market, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Even so, 2 months is still tight.

Homes selling above list price

Low supply pushes buyers to compete. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that in several ZIP codes, most homes sold above list price in the three months ending August 31, 2026.

ZIP 06042 led the market. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 83.6% of homes there selling above list. That share rose 2.7 points from a year before. Homes there also went under contract in a median of 12 days.

ZIP 06040 and ZIP 06033 were close behind, at 76.2% and 76.4%, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 06118 was at 75%. Even ZIP 06447, the softest spot, saw 60% of homes sell above list.

Prices kept rising in most ZIP codes

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows prices rose year over year in every ZIP code except one. ZIP 06033 dipped just 0.4%, to a median of $587,500. That is a small move, not a slide. ZIP 06073 led all gains at 16.3%, reaching $890,000.

For context, the Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Most East of the River ZIP codes beat that pace by a wide margin.

Rates added pressure for buyers

Tight supply was not the only challenge. CNBC reported the average contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.49% in the week ending October 7, 2026. Realtor.com noted that mortgage rates topped 7% in September 2026. Higher rates shrink what buyers can afford, which makes a well-priced home matter even more.

How fast homes moved

ZIP 06074 moved fastest. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median at 10 days, 2 days shorter than a year before. ZIP 06042 was close at 12 days, also 2 days shorter. These are quick turnarounds.

ZIP 06447 took the longest at 36 days, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 06033 was at 30 days, up 12 days from a year before. Those two ZIP codes gave buyers a little more time to think.

A closer look at two contrasting ZIP codes

These two ZIP codes sit in the same market but read very differently. In ZIP 06042, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 83.6% of homes selling above list in a median of 12 days. In ZIP 06447, 60% sold above list and the median was 36 days. Both are competitive. But prep and pricing matter more in one than the other.

What this means for owners and buyers

For owners, prices rose almost everywhere. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows gains of 6.9% to 16.3% across most ZIP codes. That said, not every home sold fast. ZIP 06033 saw days on market rise 12 days year over year. Pricing and preparation still matter.

For buyers, more Northeast inventory does not mean more East of the River inventory. Realtor.com reported Northeast inventory up 11.6% year over year. But the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows ZIP 06074 actually lost supply, dropping to just 1 month. ZIP 06108 and ZIP 06040 also saw listings fall. More choice regionally has not fully arrived here.

Rents in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford metro offer one data point for those weighing options. Realtor.com reported a median asking rent of $1,853 for 0-2 bedroom rentals in August 2026, down 1.7% year over year. About 35.8% of rental listings were offering concessions, per Realtor.com. That context may matter to buyers deciding whether to keep renting or move.