After a couple of years where the housing market has felt like it’s been stuck in neutral, 2026 may finally be the year things start moving again. Most expert forecasts point to more people making moves — and that means more opportunity for buyers, sellers, and anyone who’s been sitting on the sidelines waiting for clarity.
More Homes Will Sell
Affordability has been the biggest challenge these past few years. Between higher mortgage rates and elevated prices, a lot of would-be movers simply hit pause. But pauses don’t last forever. People always need to move — for work, family, lifestyle changes, or simply because life evolves — and the data shows more of those moves are expected to happen in 2026.
Mortgage Rates Could Continue To Ease
The biggest storyline has been mortgage rates. After peaking near 7% earlier this year, they’ve started to come down — slowly. There’s an old saying: rates climb the escalator and take the stairs back down. It’s a fitting reminder that improvement takes time.
Forecasts suggest a gradual, sometimes bumpy, decline through 2026, with rates possibly landing in the low 6s or even the high 5s by late next year. The key word here is gradual. There will be ups and downs along the way, but the overall direction appears favorable.
And you don’t need a dramatic drop to feel the difference. Even a small reduction from 7% to the mid-6s translates into hundreds of dollars saved each month — and that can make all the difference in what’s possible for many buyers.
Home Prices Will Grow at a Healthier Pace
On the pricing front, experts expect continued growth nationally, though at a much more sustainable rate. That’s a good thing. A balanced market with moderate appreciation gives buyers a better shot at affordability while allowing homeowners to maintain their hard-earned equity.
We’re not looking at a market crash. In fact, even areas experiencing price dips are generally still above where they were just a few years ago. Locally, we’ll continue to see some variation depending on supply and demand, but nationally, prices are projected to rise modestly.
This steadier pace is a welcome change — it allows for better planning, healthier competition, and a more predictable path forward.
The Bottom Line
After a quieter stretch (aside from the unusual activity right after the Palisades Fire), 2026 is shaping up to be a more active, more balanced market. With sales volume expected to rise, mortgage rates trending lower, and price growth stabilizing, the conditions are aligning for movement and opportunity.
So the real question is: when the market shifts back into gear, will you be ready to make your move?
