Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred on this day.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to praise all saints.
Soon, All Saints' Day incorporated some traditions of Samhain and the evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.
Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
Today’s the day to eat candies and sweets to your heart’s content! Happy Halloween!

More inventory gives buyers added choice in 2026, potentially reducing multiple-offer pressure and creating more room for thoughtful property decisions before signing contracts.
Mortgage rates could fluctuate in the low-6% to mid-6% range, so preapproval helps buyers show seriousness while planning monthly payments with confidence.
Higher housing costs and stricter lending make preparation essential: strengthen credit, reduce debt, save extra cash, and budget beyond the down payment.
Inspections still matter: ~6% of buyers purchased without in-person inspections, but proper appraisals and walkthroughs can reduce avoidable closing surprises for everyone.
Closings can face seller breaches, unresolved liens, repair issues, financing denials, or insurance problems, making early research and backup savings valuable for buyers.

By Late-Q3 2026, US active listings were ↑~6% yearly, the third straight month of faster yearly growth, giving buyers a bit more leverage.
That gain followed a softer stretch: annual growth had slowed to ~2% in Late-Q2 2026, far below the ~17% pace recorded a year earlier.
National inventory still sat just under pre-pandemic levels in Late-Q3 2026, with 1.16M active listings, roughly ~5% below the comparable 2019 benchmark.
With mortgage rates and long-term yields at two-yr highs, demand cooled; with the slower season underway, buyers saw a little more negotiating room.
For a sharper local read, compare current active listings per 1K households with the 2018-2019 avg. to see whether supply is above pre-pandemic norms.

New construction has become a stronger value option nationwide, as builders cut prices and add buyer incentives that many resale sellers typically cannot match.
Homeowners staying put under current mortgage conditions have limited supply of existing homes, helping new construction stand out for shoppers comparing cost and flexibility.
Markets with heavier building activity have shown how added supply can improve affordability, giving buyers more options and prompting builders to compete harder.
Builders have moved inventory with price cuts and perks like mortgage rate buydowns, a reminder for buyers to compare both new and resale options.
Affordability gains may not last if permitting keeps slowing, making continued building and streamlined local rules the clearest path to preserving buyer options.

In Late-Q3, ~21% of active listings had price cuts, while inventory topped 1.16M homes and moved within ~9% of typical pre-pandemic levels.
Buyer activity stayed cautious as homes under contract ↓~4% yearly for a second straight month, showing higher mortgage costs still limited affordability.
The national median list price was ~$419K, down ~1% MoM and yearly, marking an 11 mo stretch of yearly declines; price per sq-ft ↓~2% yearly.
Sellers largely stayed in the market: ~6% of listings were delisted, roughly flat yearly, while more owners reduced prices and opened negotiation room.
The next key test is whether additional price cuts bring more signed contracts, or whether rising supply and softer demand extend this adjustment period.