As we move through 2026, many buyers and sellers are watching mortgage rates and wondering what comes next. In this forecast, Seattle-based real estate economist Matthew Gardner of Gardner Economics shares a grounded outlook on sales activity including an expectation that home sales could increase by about 7% nationally, along with insights on pricing, competition between resale homes and new construction, and why a slight dip in rates may not mean what people expect. What happens if rates ease, and what does that really mean for buyers and sellers? A thoughtful watch for anyone navigating today’s housing market.
