Home sale expectations tempered for second half of 2026
The market should continue to plod along, with slight gains expected compared to last year as buyers and sellers continue “adjusting and showing up.”
July 8, 2026
Dave Gallagher
Director, News Reporting
Dave's journalism career spans 24 years covering business, the economy and real estate in Northwest Washington. He's also a numbers nerd, examining data to spot emerging trends in industries. Having started his career as a sports writer, he's a lifelong baseball and soccer fan and recently discovered pickleball. He grew up in Yosemite National Park and earned his journalism degree at Humboldt State University in northern California.
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- Mediocre jobs data is no cause for alarm — or celebrationJob growth was far more sluggish than expected in June — but probably not enough to panic a Federal Reserve that remains concerned about rising inflation.July 2, 2026
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- Housing challenges ‘demand coordinated action,’ report saysHousehold growth is slowing, people are moving less often and immigration is falling — all factors that may further drive down demand in the years ahead.June 26, 2026
- ‘Worst of the pain’ may be over for stalled housing marketThough pending home sales continue to stay ahead of last year’s pace, elevated rates and rising inflation are sapping momentum heading into the summer months.June 25, 2026
- ‘Resilient’ new homes segment takes a hit as sales fallMay data shows new home sales fell 7.3% month-over-month and 6.8% year-over-year as affordability concerns and economic uncertainty weighed on consumers.June 24, 2026
- 1 in 2 consumers now say it’s better to buy than rentThough high rates and home prices continue giving many consumers pause, 53% believe buying a home is a better option than paying rent or moving in with family.June 23, 2026
- New home regulatory costs up 40% in 5 years, study findsTotal regulatory costs involved in building the typical new single-family home now exceed $131K — up from about $94K five years ago, according to the NAHB.June 22, 2026
- A ‘lasting’ US-Iran deal could ‘help bring mortgage rates down’With the Strait of Hormuz starting to reopen, oil prices have dropped — and mortgage rates are beginning to tick down amid hopes for easing inflation.June 18, 2026
- Fed changes already underway as Kevin Warsh embraces top roleThough the Fed held short-term interest rates steady at its June meeting, several officials now anticipate at least one rate hike before the end of the year.June 17, 2026
- ‘Buyer rush’ pushed pending sales up across the US in MayPending home sales beat expectations for the month, rising 3.8% since April even as mortgage rates hovered around 6.5% and inflation hit a three-year high.June 17, 2026
- Home construction ‘plunge’ may not tell the whole storyHousing starts were way down in May but could just signal a correction after an unexpectedly strong early spring. Still, builder sentiment continues to slide.June 16, 2026
- Will ‘regime change’ at the Fed involve less data-sharing?While new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh might not be able to push for rate cuts right now, he may shift how the Fed handles forecasts and communications.June 15, 2026
- Spring homebuying season winds down with no sign of a rallyPending sales remain sluggish as mortgage rates tick back up, but for buyers who are ready to commit, “the door is open” to negotiate favorable terms.June 11, 2026
- 1 in 2 home shoppers open to buying without human helpA majority of prospective buyers also said that they would trust AI-provided mortgage assistance, according to a new survey from Veterans United Home Loans.June 11, 2026
- Mortgage rates hold steady as inflation hits 3-year highWhile energy prices pushed overall inflation up to 4.2% in May, core inflation was lower than expected, possibly staving off a near-term rate hike by the Fed.June 10, 2026
- Zillow rival asks judge to deny injunction in MRED listings battleCoStar, which operates competing portal Homes.com, filed a brief on Wednesday saying the court shouldn’t reward Zillow’s “own anticompetitive conduct.”June 10, 2026
- Existing home sales rose in May, but momentum may not lastSale closings likely benefitted from an earlier drop in mortgage rates. With rates back on the rise, the coming months may be slow for existing home sales.June 9, 2026
- Housing market improvements stall compared to 2025 gainsMay data shows an uptick in existing home sales as pending sales stay flat — signs that buyers and sellers have little momentum this spring homebuying season.June 8, 2026
