Major housing forecasters project home prices will appreciate between three and five percent nationally through the remainder of 2026. The modest growth rate reflects a market that is gradually rebalancing as inventory slowly increases and buyer demand normalizes.
Regional variations remain significant, with Sun Belt markets that overheated during the pandemic continuing to see flat or slightly negative price trends. Northeastern and Midwestern markets with more affordable price points are outperforming national averages.
Economists note that the persistent gap between housing supply and household formation will continue to support prices even as affordability constraints dampen demand in higher-cost metros.
