The PTC Index decreased to 204 points last month — a move that wasn’t surprising given that January is historically one of the slowest months of the year for real estate activity. Following the holiday season, buyers and sellers typically pause before the spring market gains traction. While overall activity cooled month-over-month, year-over-year comparisons continue to tell a more encouraging story.
New Home Sales…
New home sales declined 34% in January compared to the previous month, reflecting typical winter seasonality and post-holiday hesitation from buyers. On a year-over-year basis, however, sales are up 1.5%, suggesting that demand for new construction remains stable despite higher rates and affordability challenges.
Existing Home Sales…
Existing home sales saw a 23.8% month-over-month drop, continuing the seasonal slowdown trend. The encouraging news: sales are up 9.7% compared to one year ago, signaling that resale inventory is moving more efficiently than it was this time last year.
Building Permits…
After six consecutive months of decline, filings for building permits in January 2026 swung sharply upward by 57.7% compared to December. However, permits remain down 42% compared to January 2025, indicating that while momentum is returning, construction activity is still well below last year’s pace.
Average Treasure Valley Sales Price…
For the second consecutive month, average sales prices inched downward, declining 1.2% from December Despite the slight monthly softening, prices remain 2.4% higher than January 2025, reflecting continued underlying demand and limited inventory across much of the Treasure Valley.
The PTC Index is a monthly measurement of the vibrancy of the Treasure Valley real estate market. Based on a custom-weighted algorithm, it combines nine critical measurements of the real estate market into a single, useful number: the PTC Index.
Be sure to visit PTCIndex.com for full 10-year historical data.