Mortgage Expert: September Home Resales Hold Steady Near Orlando, Fall in Polk and Volusia

September 2026 resale closings rose 0.5% across four Orlando-area counties but fell 3.3% across six, as buyers face higher borrowing costs.

ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Central Florida's resale market did not move in one direction in September. A new review by Mortgage Expert found that sales held nearly steady across four Orlando-area counties while falling in the wider six-county region.

The review of Stellar MLS data found 2,430 September resale closings across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties. That was 0.5% above September 2025, even though sales fell 4.5% from August. The median sale price, the middle of the sales recorded, was $389,000, down 0.7% from a year earlier.

The wider six-county view was softer. Polk County resale sales fell 11.1% from a year earlier, while Volusia fell 8.6%. Together, the six counties had 3,674 closings, down 3.3%. The median sale price held at $360,000.

The local figures arrive as national demand for purchase loans weakens. In its October 14 report, the Mortgage Bankers Association said mortgage rates rose in the prior week. Its seasonally adjusted purchase index fell 4% in the week ending October 9. Unadjusted purchase applications were 16% below the same week last year. These are national loan-application measures, not a count of Central Florida buyers or cash purchases.

Shahram Sondi, a licensed mortgage loan originator and owner of Orlando-based mortgage brokerage Mortgage Expert, is also an active real estate broker. He says the broad numbers should not replace a close look at a specific home.

In his own work, Sondi has seen updated, well-priced homes draw more than one offer at both middle and higher price levels. He has also seen homes that need work sit when their asking prices rely on what a nearby home sold for years ago. These are Sondi's firsthand observations; the MLS study does not measure competing offers or home updates.

The review also found a difference by home type. In the four-county group, single-family resale closings rose 1.1% from a year earlier. Condo and townhouse closings fell 4.4%. Their median prices were $435,000 and $260,000, down 0.7% and 1.9%, respectively.

New inflation data adds a separate challenge for buyers now. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported October 14 that consumer prices rose 0.6% in September after seasonal adjustment and 3.7% over the past year before that adjustment. Inflation can put upward pressure on borrowing costs. Mortgage pricing can change through the rate, upfront points or lender credits, so comparing the rate alone can miss part of the cost.

The October 14 report did not cause September's completed sales. Those closings reflect deals made earlier. The housing figures are a starting point for understanding a buyer's choices, not proof of how one economic release changed local demand.

Sondi's advice is to set a full housing budget, check recent sales near the home, negotiate where the facts support it and compare matching Loan Estimates. Buyers should weigh taxes, insurance, association fees, repairs and cash left for emergencies. A plan that depends on a future refinance may fail if rates do not fall or the buyer cannot qualify.

Comparing loans is like comparing the same Toyota at two dealers: match the specifications, then compare the total price. For a mortgage, eligibility, service and closing reliability also matter.

Mortgage Expert's detailed Central Florida homebuying report includes county comparisons, charts and an explanation of why a slower market is not the same as a market crash. ORRA's reported 4.9 months of housing supply refers to August 2026. Six months is a rough balance benchmark, not a threshold that guarantees a crash.

Read the full article, charts and buyer guide on MortgageExpert.com:
https://mortgageexpert.com/mortgage-market-updates/is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-a-home-central-florida/
Explore mortgage scenarios: Mortgage Expert rate calculator.
National application figures: MBA October 14 survey.

The calculator provides a comparison baseline and selected options. Additional rates and products may be available. Pricing is normally refreshed once each business day. No name, email, phone number or credit pull is required to use it. Results are planning estimates, not an official Loan Estimate, approval, commitment to lend or rate lock. Mortgage Expert does not claim the best rate for every borrower.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Mortgage Expert analyzed Stellar MLS Matrix exports retrieved October 14, 2026. Resale means Residential records marked New Construction = No. The query used MLS Listings Only and excluded test records and records marked Exclude From Inventory Stats. It was not limited to members of one Realtor association. The four-county group is Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake; Polk and Volusia form the broader six-county group. Figures are not seasonally adjusted and do not include all real estate transactions. Late reporting and corrections may change results. Regional medians were exported directly, not averaged from county medians. Median changes do not measure each individual home's change in value. No claim of being the first September housing report is made.

ABOUT MORTGAGE EXPERT
Mortgage Expert is an Orlando-based mortgage brokerage owned by Shahram Sondi, a mortgage loan originator and active real estate broker. Its consumer education focuses on comparing the home price, loan terms, monthly costs and cash required to close.

Shahram sondi
Mortgage Expert
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