NAR Predicts Existing-Home Sales Will Rise 14% in 2026
Washington, DC, December 18, 2025-The National Association of Realtors (NAR) anticipates existing-home sales will rise by 14% in 2026.
In addition, the organization unveiled the top ten homebuying hot spots for 2026 in a new report, Housing Hot Spots for 2026: The Markets Poised for New Buyer Opportunities. The ten markets were selected based on economic, demographic and housing factors.
The Ten Top Housing Hot Spots for 2026 (in alphabetical order)
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina–South Carolina
- Columbus, Ohio
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota–Wisconsin
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Richmond, Virginia
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Spokane, Washington
The top ten housing hot spots consist of markets that outperform the average market in the U.S. on at least five of ten economic, demographic, and housing indicators, have populations above 250,000, and demonstrate meaningful 2026 opportunities for homebuyers and agents who are Realtors.
"Lower mortgage rates and larger inventory will attract buyers back to the market in 2026," said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. "The top 10 housing hot spots for 2026 have a combination of strong demand potential, projected improvements in affordability, and, most critically, a housing stock that matches the budgets of the buyers who are returning to the market."
National Outlook for 2026
- Existing-home sales are forecast to increase by 14%
- Home prices are expected to rise by about 4%
- Mortgage rates are projected to decline toward 6%
- Job growth is expected to remain moderate with roughly 1.3 million new jobs
"After three years of flat home sales, a solid double-digit percentage increase is expected in 2026," Yun said. "In 2026, we expect higher inventory, modest improvements in affordability, and more accommodating monetary policy from the Federal Reserve will help more Americans buy their next home."