The Rutherford County housing market continued to slow in August, following a similar path to July. Higher mortgage rates, growing inventory, and softer buyer activity are creating a market that
Cold Weather & Hot Demand: 2026 Housing Market Starts Strong
Dated: February 6 2026
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The Rutherford County housing market opened 2026 with early signs of renewed momentum, despite winter weather disruptions and a cautious economy. Read on for our in-depth look at the most current local market data, plus John's predictions for the rest of the year.
January Market Highlights
Pending sales rose 23% year-over-year, a notable increase for January—especially considering we had several days of severe winter weather and consistently cold conditions. Closed sales were essentially flat, down just 1% from last January, while days on market increased slightly from 32 to 38 days.
Pricing remained stable compared to January of last year, signaling that home values are holding steady as buyer activity begins to pick back up.
What's Driving Activity?
The rise in pending contracts appears closely tied to improved mortgage rates. Conventional rates are hovering around 6%, with FHA loans dipping into the mid-to-high 5% range, creating the most favorable borrowing environment buyers have seen in several years.
At the same time, affordability has become a central theme in the national conversation. Policy discussions have included ideas such as extended mortgage terms, penalty-free access to retirement funds for home purchases, caps on credit card interest rates, and federal actions aimed at keeping long-term treasury yields lower—all of which could support housing demand if implemented.
Predictions for 2026
After four consecutive years of declining sales volume, early data suggests 2026 could mark a turning point. Based on current trends, we are projecting our local market to see an increase of approximately 7% in total home sales this year—potentially the first year-over-year gain since 2021.
While forecasts remain dependent on interest rates and economic conditions, January’s strong pending activity is an encouraging signal that buyer confidence is beginning to return.
If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or simply planning ahead for later in 2026 or beyond, we’d love to help guide you through it. Now is the perfect time to take a look at your current equity and see where you stand. If you’d like a personalized Home Equity Analysis or help navigating options, our team is here to assist. Call us at 615-867-3020. It would be our pleasure to serve you.
Rob Janson
Rob Janson grew up in real estate, with his family owning a successful independent brokerage in Bristol, Tennessee. Rob moved to Murfreesboro in 1997 to attend Middle Tennessee State University. After....
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