What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026
If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you may be asking yourself: will the second half of the year be any better for the housing market? While nobody has a crystal ball, here’s what the experts say you can expect.
Mortgage Rates Aren’t Expected To Fall Dramatically
If you’re waiting for rates to fall, you’re not alone. A survey from Clever-Best Interest found 42% of people believe mortgage rates will drop below 5% this year. The challenge is that’s not what the experts who study mortgage rates every day say is going to happen.
Forecasts show mortgage rates staying relatively steady in the mid 6% range through at least mid-2027. That’s in line with where they’ve been lately.
Why? Rates are influenced by inflation, the economy, global events, and a lot of other moving pieces. And those simply aren’t pointing toward the kind of drop many buyers are waiting for.
Now, if there’s a lasting resolution to the conflict abroad or if inflation starts to cool, that could create room for rates to come down more than expected. We’ll have to wait and see. The good news is, there are things we can do to make your move more affordable even if rates don’t really change: adjustable-rate mortgages, rate buydowns, and assumable mortgages. So, don’t assume waiting is your only option.
Home Prices Will Grow at a Moderate Pace
A lot of buyers want home prices to fall, too. But that’s not what most forecasts show either. While price trends are going to vary by area, and some places are seeing mild declines, experts still expect home prices to net positive this year at the national level.
read more…Click here to download the complete Home Buyers Guide Fall 2026
