The Murfreesboro spring real estate market is not something you wait for — it is already here. If your home went on the market today, the earliest you would realistically close is late March, more likely April. If you wait until April to list, you are effectively selling into the summer market. That is just the lag time of how real estate works, and most sellers do not account for it until it is too late.

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What Happened to Mortgage Rates This Week?

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.01 percent this week — the lowest in over three years. We came close four or five weeks ago at 6.06 percent, but each time rates neared this level over the past couple of years they bounced back up. This time they have held low for three to five consecutive weeks, which is a different pattern than what we have seen.

Could rates dip below 6 percent? It is possible. The trend right now favors buyers. Every time that rate drops, monthly payments drop with it. The 15-year rate came in at 5.35 percent this week, which is worth noting for anyone considering a shorter-term mortgage or thinking about refinancing a home purchased in the past two or three years at a higher rate.

Are More Buyers Coming Into the Murfreesboro Market Right Now?

Yes — and that is the story that matters most right now. Pending home sales across Rutherford County are up 12.5 percent over the three-year average. New listings are down nearly 5 percent over that same benchmark. More buyers are actively making offers while the number of homes coming on the market is not keeping up.

MBA mortgage applications came in at 157 this week. That is down slightly from the three-year high hit about three weeks ago, but year over year applications are still running above 2023, 2024, and 2025 levels for this point in the year. More buyers are entering the market now than they have been in several years.

Where Does Rutherford County Stand in Week 8 of 2026?

There are 1,377 homes available in Rutherford County — up 42 percent over the three-year average, but remember that 2023 and 2024 had very low inventory. Months of supply sits at 3.3, which leans slightly toward buyers. Under $300,000 there are only 91 homes available and that price range is moving at under two months of supply. The $300,000 to $500,000 range is balanced. Above $700,000, over a third of listings are relists — homes that were previously on the market and did not sell the first time, which tells you pricing is the issue at that end.

How Are 2026 Pending Sales Tracking Compared to Previous Years?

At the start of 2026, the projection was that sales would land somewhere between 2023 and 2024 numbers. Eight weeks in, that is holding. Every week except for the ice storm week, Rutherford County has had more pending sales than both 2024 and 2025. We are not quite matching the first quarter of 2023 pace, but we are trending in that direction.

February closings are sitting at 237 with one week left in the month. Last February had 334. The final week of any month typically carries the most closings, so the gap could narrow — but it will be close.

Why Should Low Housing Starts Concern Buyers and Sellers?

Nationally, housing starts are at 1.4 million. That is a low number. Builders have pulled back because of market conditions, and if a builder pulls a permit today it could be six to twelve months before that home is ready to sell. If buyer activity keeps climbing and new listings stay flat, the absence of new construction means we could see inventory tighten meaningfully heading into the second half of 2026. Tighter inventory puts upward pressure on prices — and right now the market needs prices to stay level while household incomes continue catching up.

What Should Buyers and Sellers Do Right Now in Murfreesboro?

If you are a buyer, conditions are the most favorable they have been in years. Rates are at a three-year low, inventory gives you real choices, and you have more negotiating room than buyers had in 2023 or 2024. That window may not stay open as inventory tightens through spring.

If you are a seller, do not wait. The spring market is not ahead of you — it is here now. The buyers are active. Rates are helping them afford more. But you still need to price your home correctly, present it well, and have an agent who is going to promote it across every relevant channel. Nearly half of all homes listed in Rutherford County do not sell on the first attempt. That is not a market problem. That is a preparation problem.