At the 2026 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun said the housing market should improve modestly in the second half of 2026 as inventory and housing supply continue to increase.
National existing home sales are expected to rise 4% in 2026. The median home price is forecast to increase by 4%. Mortgage rates are expected to hover around 6.5%. The typical homeowner is projected to gain about $16,000 in housing wealth this year.
Yun emphasized that homeowners continue building equity while renters generally do not benefit from rising home values.
NAR expects the U.S. to avoid a recession in 2026. Growth is being supported by investments in artificial intelligence and data centers. Unemployment is projected to remain below 5% and the economy is expected to add about 400,000 jobs this year.
NAR expects a gradually improving housing market in 2026, supported by increasing inventory, stable economic conditions, and continued home-price appreciation and if interest rates continue to decrease, this improvement will be accelerated.
Source : https://bit.ly/4oyT0da
By: Jon Iacono