The residential housing market in Missouri gained momentum in April, with sales activity and prices increasing on both a monthly and year-over-year basis, according to market statistics from the Missouri Realtors.

The jump, both in pending and closed sales, came as mortgage rates were hovering around 6.3% in April. However, Realtors described the robust sales as an outcome of comparatively lower mortgage rates in February and March.

Closed home sales statewide climbed to 6,733 units in April, up 21.2% from March and 22.5% higher than in April 2025. Pending sales of homes under contract rose to 7,291, with a month over month increase of 9.7% and a year-over-year gain of 8.2%.

“A lot of those homes that sold in April went under contract in February and March,” said Brian Toohey, CEO of the Mid-Missouri Board of Realtors.

He said that there was a time in that window when the mortgage rates were below 6%. As contracts typically take up to 45 days to close, those sales were reflected in April’s report.

Home prices also increased across the state, with the average sales price in April at $338,947, up 10.1% from March and 6.7% from April last year. The median sales price increased 7.7% from March and 4.5% from April 2025 to reach $280,000.

The year to date median sales price climbed to $273,000, up 7.1% from 2025 and 11.4% from 2024.

Toohey attributed the price surge to rising demand from move up buyers — existing homeowners who sell their current residence to purchase a larger or more expensive home — in higher price brackets.

“A lot of the homes that were sold in April are going to be second time buyers,” Toohey said. “Those are people who are going to be in that mid tier to upper end market, and that’s where we saw most of the sales.”

He also said that more existing homeowners were willing to list and sell their houses, providing more inventory.

Brett Reinhart, a real estate agent based in Springfield, called it the “busiest market” in his more than 20 year career and noted a similar purchasing pattern on the ground.

“First time homebuyers are struggling a little bit more,” Reinhart said. “Most of the home sales are going to second time homebuyers.”

Reinhart, however, felt that the recent market trends did not have as much to do with mortgage rates.

“Our mortgage rates are still at a national average, which shouldn’t typically affect anybody,” he said.

What has changed, he said, is that home values climbed more than 40% while many wages could not keep pace. This price appreciation has boosted the market but narrowed who can afford to buy a home. For many first time buyers, the combination of higher prices and sluggish pay raises has eroded affordability.

Despite the robust sales activity in April, cumulative figures show that total sales so far this year remain below 2025 volumes. The year to date closed sales volume stood at 22,146, down 8.6% compared with the same period in 2025, though still 7% higher than in 2024. Active listings increased from 12,000 in February to 13,420 in March and 14,236 in April, expanding the choices available to buyers.