Why Economists Expect a Stronger Housing Market in 2026

A stronger economy could translate into stronger housing wealth in 2026. Economists expect the U.S. to avoid a recession, add hundreds of thousands of jobs, and keep unemployment below 5%, creating conditions that could help the average homeowner add roughly $16,000 to their net worth. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down why experts are optimistic, why mortgage rates may remain stubbornly high, and why local markets could tell very different stories.Connect with Mortgage Research Network:YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with a lender: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/426GyawIn this episode you’ll learn:Why economists are optimistic about 2026: National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun expects continued economic growth and a stronger housing market.How homeowners could build more wealth: Rising home values could add an average of about $16,000 to homeowners' net worth next year.Why job growth matters for housing: Strong employment and low unemployment tend to support home prices and buyer confidence.Why real estate remains highly local: Conditions can vary dramatically from one city, neighborhood, or even street to the next.Why some homes sell quickly while others sit: Buyer demand, local inventory, and specific market conditions are creating uneven results across the country.Why mortgage rates may stay elevated: Economists expect 30-year fixed rates to remain around 6.5%, limiting affordability for many buyers.How inflation continues to shape housing: Persistent inflation and global events are likely to keep downward pressure on mortgage rates limited.Why supply chains still matter: Disruptions affecting energy, food, and commodities can ripple through the economy and influence housing markets.Why forecasts come with uncertainty: Economic predictions are based on assumptions that can change quickly as events unfold.How buyers and homeowners can use forecasts wisely: Understanding trends can help consumers prepare and make more informed decisions.The big takeaway: Housing market forecasts are never guarantees, but many economists believe a stable economy and continued job growth could create a stronger market environment in 2026—even if mortgage rates remain higher than buyers would like.Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/national-association-of-realtors-stronger-housing-market-2026/