Published October 4, 2026 in Market Update

One part of the South Shore is moving much faster than the rest

By Patrick & Alana Scanlon (Scanlon Sells Team)

Real estate, South Shore (Quincy/Braintree/Weymouth/Milton)

Most of the South Shore is moving. But one pocket is in a different gear entirely. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 0.9 months of supply in ZIP 02188 for the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is the tightest reading across all nine ZIP codes we track here. For sellers there, the math is different. For buyers, speed matters.

To put that in plain terms: the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 66.7% of homes in ZIP 02188 went under contract within two weeks of listing. That share rose 9.2 points from the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, Redfin reported that 21% of U.S. sellers were cutting asking prices during the four weeks ending September 20, 2026. Those two things can be true at once. Nationally, sellers are trimming. In this one pocket, buyers are moving fast.

Wait. We listed 1.2 months of supply above. That is ZIP 02190, not 02188. Let us be precise. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put ZIP 02188 at 0.9 months and ZIP 02190 at 1.2 months. Both are tight. But 02188 is the floor.

How the nine ZIP codes compare

The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked all nine ZIP codes across this market for the same three months. Supply ranged from 0.9 months to 2.9 months. That is a wide spread for one region. ZIP 02169 sat at the loose end, with 2.9 months of supply and 124 homes for sale, up 49.4% from a year earlier. ZIP 02188 sat at the tight end. Same period, same market, very different picture.

What sold above list, and where

The share of homes selling above list price tells a similar story, though not an identical one. ZIP 02186 led at 58.7%, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 02191 came in at 66.7% above list, with prices up 14.8% year over year. ZIP 02189 had 75% of homes go under contract within two weeks, the highest two-week rate we tracked, yet its median price fell 23% year over year. That drop is worth noting honestly: a big price shift in a small sample can reflect what sold, not a collapse in value. We would not read too much into one number there without knowing more.

Rates are not helping buyers anywhere

CNBC reported the average contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage with a conforming loan balance at 7.30% as of September 30, 2026. Mortgage News Daily, also cited by CNBC, put it at 7.58% on that same Tuesday. Realtor.com confirmed rates topped 7% in September 2026. That is the backdrop every buyer here is working against. In a tight ZIP like 02188, buyers are competing for a short list of homes while carrying a high rate. That combination requires a clear plan before you step into an offer.

The broader market: more listings, about the same sales

Across all nine ZIP codes together, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 578 homes sold in the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is up just 1.4% from the same period a year earlier. New listings rose 1.2% to 751. Homes for sale rose 13% to 366. So more choices are showing up, but sales have not kept pace. That is why some ZIP codes feel looser. Pending sales across the full market fell 3% year over year to 622. The market is not stalling, but it is not tightening either, except in those specific pockets.

What this means if you own a home here

ZIP-level numbers are honest, but they are still averages. One street can read very differently from the ZIP code around it. A home with a layout, condition or price point that does not match recent sales will sit longer, even in a tight market. And a well-priced home in a looser ZIP can still move fast if it is the right fit. The numbers above tell you the conditions. They do not tell you where your specific home lands inside them.