States with the least—and most—housing market inventory heading into the fall

As someone who’s spent over 20 years helping families navigate the ever-changing real estate landscape in Chicagoland, I keep a close eye on housing inventory trends—especially as we head into the fall. National inventory saw a modest 2.1% year-over-year increase from July 2025 to July 2026, a significant slowdown from the 24.7% jump the year prior. Even with this uptick, inventory remains 9.1% below where we stood in 2019, and the Midwest and Northeast markets are still feeling the squeeze. Across the country, active inventory grew by 23,465 homes. For clients in the Western Suburbs and beyond, understanding these numbers is key to making informed decisions, whether you’re preparing to buy or sell. Drawing on my background in banking and commercial real estate, I always aim to highlight how shifts in supply can impact both value and opportunity for families in our community.