US Home Prices: What the Median Misses | https://www.michelemovesmountains.com

When you hear national headlines about home prices—like the recent $25K gap between new and existing single-family homes in Q2 2026—it’s easy to assume the same story applies everywhere. But here in North Georgia, the picture is far more nuanced. The national median for new homes was $410.7K, while existing homes hit $435.7K, marking the widest margin on record and continuing a trend that began back in Q2 2024. Much of this is driven by homeowners holding onto historically low mortgage rates, and by builders focusing on smaller homes and lots, plus incentives to keep sales moving. But those numbers don’t capture what’s actually happening in communities like Blue Ridge—where home types, lot sizes, and even construction costs all shape price trends in unique ways. While new-home prices dipped about 1% nationwide, and existing-home prices grew a modest 2% after a long run of increases, what matters most here is understanding how these shifts play out locally. That’s why deep local insight is essential for buyers and sellers navigating the North Georgia mountain market—especially when national statistics only tell part of the story.