Buyers, sellers feeling good about their prospects in 2026
Optimism runs high — even as consumers and agents foresee more economic uncertainty ahead, a new survey found. And nearly everyone is worried about money.
Key points:
- Among buyers and sellers planning to enter the market soon, the vast majority think 2026 will be a good year to make their move, according to a survey by Clever.
- Still, many are concerned about the economy and their financial situation in the new year, and buyers are worried that a recession could delay their purchase plans.
- Agents also have a rosy outlook, at least when it comes to their career. While 2025 was a rough year for sales, more than half of agents surveyed expect 2026 to be worse.
Buyers, sellers and real estate agents are feeling optimistic about the coming year's housing market.
Or are they?
About 86% of likely buyers and sellers and 75% of agents think 2026 will be a good year to transact, according to a recent survey from Clever Offers. But many also worry that the market could crash or an economic downturn could tank their personal finances.
Results from the survey — which included 500 consumers who plan to buy or sell a home in 2026, 500 consumers not planning to enter the market, and 804 real estate agents — spotlight inconsistencies in housing market perceptions that could shape the landscape in 2026 and beyond.
People are feeling good about the market
Despite rising economic concerns, agents expressed steady optimism about their local markets throughout 2025 — and it appears that trend will continue into 2026: A majority (63%) of agents surveyed said they expect to see more stability compared to the past two years.
Consumers are also optimistic about their prospects in the new year. Nearly three-quarters of prospective buyers (73%) and sellers (72%) said 2026 will be a good year to buy or sell, respectively — welcome news for agents after a year marked by tepid demand and record delistings.
Still, many worry about the economy and market stability
While hopeful about their own ability to transact, only 22% of buyers and sellers think the real estate market will improve next year, and 40% are worried about a housing market crash.
The majority of those consumers (60%) also think the economy is heading in a negative direction overall, with just over half expecting an economic recession or depression in 2026, according to the survey.
Those findings appear to align with other measures of consumer pessimism and anxiety about the economy and housing market. In Fannie Mae's latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index, more consumers said they believe it's a bad time to buy and think the economy is on the wrong track, while the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment remains near the lowest level in more than three years.
And those optimistic agents? They ranked economic uncertainty as their toughest challenge for this coming year, according to Clever's survey.
Affordability remains a key issue for buyers and sellers in 2026
Nearly all buyers and sellers surveyed (93%) are bracing for challenges to their financial stability in 2026, citing inflation as their top concern. They also expect the high costs of insurance, health care and home maintenance to be challenging, and 40% of buyers and sellers are worried about being able to afford their housing payments next year.
Among likely buyers, roughly two-thirds are concerned that rising home prices or a potential recession will delay their plans, and nearly half say they'll need financial assistance in order to buy.
Sellers ranked their top three challenges as preparing their home for sale (40%), negotiating offers (36%) and selling in a high-mortgage rate environment (35%). They view overall economic conditions as the top factor that will determine how fast they can sell.
Agents, however, say listing prices will have a bigger effect on the speed of sales.
Commission rates — and a disconnect between buyers and sellers
Most agents feel good about their job and financial security going into 2026, and they don't expect to see much change in commission rates.
They should note, however, that most buyers (70%) still expect sellers to pay their agent's commission, while only 45% of sellers say they plan to do so — a situation that could leave some buyers scrambling.
Despite feeling optimistic about their careers, more than half of agents surveyed anticipate having a harder time closing deals than in 2025.
Agents may also have to contend with a smaller client pool. Nearly half of buyers surveyed said they might not work with an agent in 2026, an uptick from last year, and it's a similar trend with sellers.