Economists expect ‘a reset’ for housing in 2026, ‘not a rebound’
With the U.S. economy at a crossroads, real estate economists have differing home sales forecasts for 2026 — but most expect mortgage rates to continue to drop.
December 4, 2025
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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- Home sales projections fall in revised 2026 forecastFannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group now expects home sales to rise 7.3% in 2026 — a downward revision from earlier forecasts published this fall.November 21, 2025
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- Strong jobs report casts doubt on third rate cut in 2025A long-awaited jobs report beat expectations, but unemployment also ticked up. Meanwhile, existing home sales have increased as mortgage rates stabilized.November 20, 2025
- One benefit of the slower housing market? Less buyer regretHome maintenance, the costs of necessary household items and the impact of a home purchase on savings topped the list among recent buyers who did have regrets.November 20, 2025
- Most buyer-friendly market in a decade isn’t moving the needleSellers outnumber buyers by 36.8%, according to a new Redfin report, but affordability challenges remain. However, economists say the market may shift in 2026.November 19, 2025
- Risk mitigation, local control drive MLS Handbook revisionsNAR’s manual for MLSs received a thorough scrubbing, with several policies repealed to reduce liability and “promote the MLS’s independent decision-making.”November 17, 2025
- NAR in 2026: A new plan, new leaders, fewer membersOn his last day as NAR president, Kevin Sears was lauded for “doing the things no one else would have wanted to do” and readying the association for the future.Updated November 24, 2025
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- 2026 could finally be the year home sales reboundNAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is predicting a 14% rise after three years of sluggish sales — but that largely depends on what happens with mortgage rates.November 15, 2025
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- NAR unveils 3-year plan aimed at proving its value to membersAt NAR NXT, leaders say the association offers “significant ROI” to members. They intend to demonstrate that value by tackling 75 projects in the coming years.November 13, 2025
