Welcome to Capitol & Market, our all-member source for industry and advocacy news, legal updates, housing market insights, education and professional development opportunities for Indiana REALTORS®.
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Indiana entered 2026 with one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates and steady earnings growth adding to the momentum of improving mortgage rates.
- With rates averaging 6.1% through January, more homeowners put their moving plans into action by putting their properties on the market: New January listings were 3% ahead of 2025 at 6,359.
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But while home sales over the five weeks from December 29th through February 1st showed year-over-year growth on a weekly basis, the timing of the New Year’s holiday and winter weather disruptions depressed final monthly totals.
- January closings (4,174) finished 5% below 2025; new pending sales (5,504) jumped 25% from December to January but were 1% behind last year.
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New listings and pending sales above $350,000 saw stronger gains, suggesting that current homeowners-turned-repeat buyers continue to drive the market with historic equity – but there was also good news for potential first-time buyers in January...starting with the monthly median sale price.
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The streak is over: Indiana’s median sale price ($250,000) unchanged from 2025.
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- The state median sale price fell 5% from December to $250,000, the same as January 2025.
- This breaks a streak of 139 consecutive months of positive year-over-year price appreciation – May 2014 was the last time the state median sale price was the same or less than the previous year.
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More buying power in a more balanced market.
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- Higher inventory continued to give buyers more options (and leverage): 15,448 homes were available for sale on an average day last month, 13% above 2025 – and the highest January supply since 2020.
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Sellers accepted 93.6% of their original list price, down from 94.6% in 2025, and properties took five days longer to go under contract (45 days).
- With steady sale pricing and rates about 80 basis points lower than last year, the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home finished well below January 2025.
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Overall affordability relative to income also improved – the median monthly house payment took less than 33% of Indiana’s average household income for the first time since April 2023.
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The latest: Weekly endings rebound after the winter weather impacts ease.
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After the winter storm affected portions of the previous two weeks, the week of February 2nd saw a rebound - however, the three-week trend (January 19 through February 8) is running about 7% behind 2025.
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Share positive affordability trends - click to download the full image. |
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A Look Back at the 2026 IAR Installation: |
IAR’s Board of Directors Installation, Legislative Briefing and Reception were pushed back a week to February 2nd by winter weather, but the events were well worth the wait. More than two hundred REALTORS® and guests made their way to downtown Indianapolis to welcome the 2026 Board of Directors led by IAR’s first Chair, Aaron Luttrull. Click below for a highlight reel and check out a photo gallery here.
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Dome to Home: Summer Summit South Bend – June 1-2, 2026 |
Our annual Summer Summit explores Indiana’s unique housing markets and real estate trends across the state beyond Indianapolis – we’ve been to French Lick, Fort Wayne and Madison in the series.
The fourth annual Indiana REALTOR® Summer Housing Summit heads north to South Bend, our sixth-largest city. Best known as home to the University of Notre Dame, South Bend has also earned attention for its efforts in economic reinvention, neighborhood revitalization and housing redevelopment.
This South Bend Summer Summit will feature insights on ‘college town’ real estate markets, and a look at strategies for neighborhood and housing development around campus. The Summit will also highlight transit’s real estate impact – looking at South Bend’s increased appeal to Chicagoland commuters – working in interstate housing markets and a continued focus on regional cooperation in residential development.
Watch for announcements on specific agenda topics, speakers and panels. You won’t want to miss this year’s Summit – so register like a champion today. Click below for more information and have your M1 (NRDS) number and password handy if you’re ready to claim your spot.
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AM: Agent Mastery Professional Development Webinar Series |
Thursday, March 19th at 10:00AM (ET) - Using the Indiana Housing Hub |
Master market data with a Zoom tutorial on the Indiana Housing Hub, where market reports are updated weekly and monthly down to the ZIP code level and made available on demand for IAR members.
If you’ve never explored the Housing Hub, you’ll learn the basics of accessing reports and putting the data to work for your clients; if you’re a regular user, you’ll also get the scoop on new features and upgrades. Plus a market update and outlook with regional insights from the IAR data analytics team – please join us on March 19th by clicking below:
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Advocacy in Action: 2026 Delegation Days |
Each legislative session, REALTORS® travel from across the state to connect with their legislators at the Statehouse, make the case for pro-housing priorities and hear directly from fellow REALTORS® serving in the General Assembly. 2026 is already a short (non-budget) session, and January’s winter storm meant just two Delegation Days this year – February 2nd and 9th.
But hundreds of REALTORS® still showed up and spoke out on behalf of real estate professionals and consumers, property owners and residential taxpayers along with Hoosiers still on the journey to homeownership. These members made these two days count with the power of in-person advocacy.
Check out more Delegation Days photos here.
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138 Days (and Counting) Until June 30th: |
We're more than 60% through the 12-month Continuing Education cycle; it's time to start working through your twelve hour annual requirement before the market heats up and schedules get even more hectic. Fortunately, you can get started at your convenience from wherever you have a computer and reliable WiFi.
RECP’s online, on demand member benefit CE package is already included in your IAR dues and is available now by clicking or scanning below...remember, the Professional Licensing Agency will begin conducting required annual audits of CE compliance for all licensees past their two-year post-licensing period this year.
(IAR members, log in to RECP and do not purchase the 12-hour member benefit courses. Email info@recp.org for help logging in.)
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| AARON LUTTRULL
2026 IAR Chair
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Capitol and Market. It’s not only our address but also what we do. IAR backs you at the state Capitol and works to keep REALTORS® at the center of their local market. This newsletter will report on these efforts, as well as all the other information you’re entitled to as a member.
Add news@indianarealtors.com to your address book and be sure to let your local association know when you change email addresses (that’s where we get your contact). Thank you for reading and thank you for your membership.
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