If you’ve looked at any real estate listings recently, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that home prices are still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
However, a new report highlights just how high they’ve climbed in recent years. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Existing-Home Sales report, home prices reached an all-time high in June 2026.
And you may be surprised to know which states are feeling the pinch when it comes to real estate sticker shock. That’s because there are two states that remain the most expensive in the country.
Find out if you call one of them home.
U.S. Home Prices Have Reached an All-Time High
NAR released a statement on Thursday, which was picked up by the Associated Press. In it, the organization announced that home prices have reached their highest point since 1999, when the data was first tracked.
“The median home price has reached an all-time high,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence YunYun said in the statement, noting that wages have been outpacing home prices by just enough to keep the higher prices within reach for some.
“However, progress on long-term housing affordability could be hampered if inventory growth continues to stall,” he continued. “Without consistent gains in inventory, home prices can accelerate. It is critical to introduce more supply to the market to widen the opportunity for homeownership.”
Two States Remain the Most Expensive in the Country
They say real estate is all about location, location, location, and the NAR report really drives that fact home, breaking the country up into regions to showcase where prices are the most expensive. According to the report, those living in the western part of the country are facing the highest median home prices, with an average of $633,600 per home.
As for which states are seeing the most sticker shock while house hunting, unfortunately that falls to California and Hawaii, respectively. U.S. News & World Report says that California has the highest median home price (which clocked in at $706,333 as of April 2026), followed by Hawaii (at $683,333).
Of course, homeowners in those states may be willing to pay a little extra thanks to the stunning landscapes and gorgeous weather, making those higher home prices a bit easier to swallow.