October was the month the Garden City and Finney County housing market shifted into its late fall rhythm. Inventory kept shrinking, buyers stayed active but got more selective, and sellers cut prices more often than at any point this fall. Here is the full month in one place, built from our five weekly Monday Market Reports covering September 28 through November 1, 2026.
October at a Glance
- New listings: 24
- Homes under contract: 29
- Homes sold and closed: 22
- Price reductions: 45
- Active listings: 131 at the start of the month, 124 at the end
- Weekly median sales prices: $165,000 to $322,000
Totals add up our five weekly reports from September 28 through November 1, which is how we track the market each Monday.
Week by Week
| Week | New | Under Contract | Sold | Median | Active | Price Cuts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | $165,000 | 131 | 7 |
| Oct 5 to 11 | 7 | 8 | 5 | $322,000 | 132 | 9 |
| Oct 12 to 18 | 3 | 4 | 4 | $291,000 | 127 | 7 |
| Oct 19 to 25 | 4 | 6 | 7 | $213,000 | 125 | 10 |
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | $223,000 | 124 | 12 |
| October total | 24 | 29 | 22 | - | 131 to 124 | 45 |
Story 1: Buyers Outpaced New Supply
Buyers went under contract on 29 homes in October while only 24 new listings came on the market. When buyers take homes off the market faster than sellers add them, inventory falls, and that is exactly what happened. Active listings dropped from a high of 132 in early October to 124 by month's end, the lowest count in our weekly reports and 18 fewer than the 142 homes for sale in mid September.
Contract activity did slow late in the month. The first two weeks of October brought 8 contracts each, and the final week brought just 3, a normal seasonal cooldown as the holidays get closer.
Story 2: Price Reductions Climbed All Month
Sellers made 45 price cuts over the month, and the last two weeks set back to back highs for our reports at 10 and then 12. In the final week, 6 listings also expired without selling. Even with fewer homes on the market, buyers are comparing carefully and watching their monthly payment. Homes priced right from day one are the ones going under contract. Homes priced above what buyers will pay are sitting until the price comes down.
Story 3: What Happened to Prices?
Weekly median sales prices swung from $165,000 to $322,000 in October. That looks dramatic, but it mostly reflects which homes happened to close in a given week. With only 2 to 7 closings per week in Finney County, one larger home or one smaller starter home can move the median a lot. The better read on prices is the trend in reductions above: sellers are adjusting, and buyers have a little more room to negotiate than they did this summer.
For a snapshot of what is for sale right now, a check of the MLS on November 5 showed about 121 single family homes listed in Finney County, with an average asking price of roughly $333,000 and prices ranging from about $65,000 to $1.66 million. You can browse Garden City homes for sale anytime.
Mortgage Rates: Up Early, Down Late
Rates rose to start the month. Freddie Mac's average 30-year fixed rate was 7.28% on October 1 (Trading Economics, citing Freddie Mac), climbed to 7.40% on October 8 and held there on October 15 (Freddie Mac). Then they eased for two straight weeks, to 7.32% on October 22 (Freddie Mac) and 7.24% on October 29 (Freddie Mac), the lowest reading of the month.
Rates are still about a full point above where they were a year ago, so buying power is tighter. We broke down exactly what that means for your budget in Mortgage Rates Above 7%: What It Means for Your Buying Power in Garden City.
How Kansas Compares
Kansas REALTORS has not yet released statewide numbers for October. Its most recent report, for September, showed closed sales down 1.3% from a year ago, the median sale price up 4.6% to $284,250, and new contracts down 14.3% (Kansas REALTORS). That same pattern of steady prices and more cautious buyers is what we saw in Finney County in October. We will share the October statewide numbers in a Monday Market Report once they are out.
What It Means Heading Into Winter
For buyers: Late fall and winter can be a smart time to shop in Garden City. There is less competition, sellers are more willing to adjust, and rates eased at the end of October. Get pre-approved, compare a few lenders, and remember that MBA can show you any home on the market, not just our listings. Schedule a showing anytime.
For sellers: With fewer homes for sale, a well priced, well prepared listing still stands out. The cycle of price cuts and expired listings in October is the clearest sign that pricing right from the start matters more than ever. If you are thinking about selling this winter or next spring, we are happy to walk through what your home is worth in today's market.
Talk With a Local Agent
Want to know what October's market means for your home or your search? Read our latest weekly market report, explore more Southwest Kansas market reports, or contact MBA Real Estate. You can also call our office at 620-275-7440.
Buy. Sell. Local.