Wisconsin REALTORS® Association Releases March 2026 Real Estate Report
Madison, Wis. — The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association released its March 2026 Real Estate Report today, showing that home sales rebounded after a slow start to the year, even as rising prices and tight inventory continued to challenge affordability.
Existing home sales increased 7 percent compared to March 2025, while the statewide median home price rose 6.5 percent to $330,000. On a year-to-date basis, sales are now up 2.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025, with the median price increasing 6.7 percent to $320,000. Inventory remains constrained, with just 3.3 months of supply statewide, which is well below the six-month level typically considered balanced. Total listings rose slightly, up 0.3 percent over the past year.
Mortgage rates provided modest relief compared to last year, with the average 30-year fixed rate falling 47 basis points to 6.18 percent. However, affordability was essentially unchanged year over year, with the Wisconsin Housing Affordability Index dipping slightly to 132.
Amy Curler, 2026 Chair of the Board of Directors, Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, highlighted that “sales rebounded in March after a slow start in January and February. As we enter the peak period for sales, it’s good to see this bounce in closings, and hopefully it continues into the summer.”
Tom Larson, President & CEO, Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, stated, “After four months of improvement, affordability stalled in March. This was because the annual appreciation of home prices ticked up, rising 6.5%, and the modest improvements in family income and mortgage rates just kept pace with that price increase. Supply remains tight, so we really need to see consistent reductions in mortgage rates for affordability to improve.”
Dave Clark, Professor Emeritus of Economics and Wisconsin REALTORS® Association Consultant, noted, “the disruption of global oil supplies resulting from the war with Iran has caused a spike in annual inflation rates. Headline inflation measured using the Consumer Price Index rose from an annual rate of 2.4% in January and February to 3.3% in March. Not surprisingly, the impact on the so-called core inflation rate, which factors out the more volatile food and energy sectors, rose only slightly from 2.5% in January and February to 2.6% in March. While the Fed focuses on core inflation when gauging inflationary pressures, we shouldn’t expect to see any interest rate cuts by the Fed until both measures of inflation settle back down to pre-war levels.”
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Existing home sales rose 7 percent year over year in March, while the median home price increased 6.5 percent to $330,000.
- Year-to-date sales increased 2.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025, with prices up 6.7 percent to $320,000.
- Inventory remained tight at 3.3 months statewide, continuing to favor sellers.
- Total listings were essentially flat, rising just 0.3 percent over the past 12 months.
- The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.18 percent, down from 6.65 percent one year earlier.
