If a move is on your radar for 2026, there’s a lot more working in your favor than there has been in a while.
After a stretch where may people felt stuck, 2026 is shaping up to be a year with more balance, more options, and more clarity for people who want to make a move. Not because the market is suddenly “easy,” but because several key conditions are shifting.
Here’s what the experts are saying you have to look forward to.
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com:

“After a challenging period for buyers, sellers and renters, 2026 should offer a welcome, if modest, step toward a healthier housing market.”

The National Association of Realtors (NAR):

“Top economists have one word to sum up the housing market for 2026: opportunity. Lower mortgage rates and a rising supply of homes are expected to open up the housing market . . . something the real estate industry and potential home buyers and sellers have bee ...

Why Experts Say Mortgage Rates Should Ease Over the Next Year
If you’re keeping an eye on the housing market, you’ve probably noticed that mortgage rates have started to ease slightly. But will this trend continue into next year? According to industry experts, there’s a good chance we’ll see further relief ahead. Let’s break down why.

The Connection Between Mortgage Rates and the 10-Year Treasury Yield
For more than 50 years, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has closely tracked the movement of the 10-year Treasury yield — a key benchmark for long-term interest rates.
When the Treasury yield rises, mortgage rates typically follow. When it falls, mortgage rates tend to drop as well.
The relationship between these two numbers is known as the spread, which normally averages around 1.76 percentage points (or 176 basis points).

Why the Spread Matters
Over the past few years, that spread has been much wider than usual. Why? Economic uncertainty.
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Now that buyers have more options for their move, you need to be a bit more intentional about making sure your house looks its best when you sell. And proper staging can be a great way to do just that.
What Is Home Staging?
It’s not about making your house look super trendy or like it belongs in a magazine. It’s about helping it feel welcoming and move-in ready, so it’s easy for buyers to picture themselves living there.
It’s important to understand there’s a range when it comes to staging. It can include everything from simple tweaks to more extensive setups, depending on your needs and budget. But a little bit of time, effort, and money invested in this process can really make a difference when you sell – especially in today’s market.
A study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows staged homes sell faster and for more money than homes that aren’t staged at all (see below):


Which Rooms Matter M; ...

There’s a new divide in housing right now. In some states, buyers are gaining ground. In others, sellers still have the upper hand. It all depends on where you live. Curious what’s happening in your state?
These 3 maps show how the split is playing out across the country. In each one:

Darker Shades of Blue = Buyer friendly

Lighter Shades of Blue = Seller strong

Inventory Sets the Stage
While the number of homes for sale has improved pretty much across the board, how much growth we’ve seen can look dramatically different based on where you live. And that impacts who has the leverage today.
This map uses data from Realtor.com to break it down:

The darker shades of blue show where inventory has risen more than in other areas of the country. Buyers here have more to choose from and should have an easier time finding a home and leveraging their negotiating power.

The lighter shades of blue are where inventory is still ; ...

For the past couple of years, it’s been tough for a lot of homebuyers to make the numbers work. Home prices shot up. Mortgage rates too. And a number of people hit pause because it just didn’t feel possible. Maybe you were one of them.
But there’s some encouraging news. If you’ve been waiting for a better time to jump back in, affordability may finally be showing signs of improvement this fall.
The latest data from Redfin shows the typical monthly mortgage payment has been coming down, and is now about $290 lower than it was just a few months ago (see graph below):
And here’s why this is happening. The cost of buying a home really comes down to three things:

Mortgage rates
Home prices
Your wages

Right now, all three are finally moving in a better direction for you. While that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly easy to buy at today’s rates and prices, it does mean it’s not as challenging.
1. Mortgage Ra ...