A new assessment of the housing market at mid-year found the economy resilient, the market stable, and buyers and sellers active. The report – from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website – says the group expects things to accelerate during the second half of the year, after a slower first half, but end up with home prices down roughly 1 percent and sales up about the same. Danielle Hale, the website’s chief economist, says the market may not have momentum but it has stability. “Against a backdrop of both familiar and new challenges, the economy has proved resilient. As a result, the first half of 2026 delivered stability more than momentum in the housing market” Hale said. “The housing market is inching forward as sellers reset expectations, price growth cools, and buyers gain more negotiating power.” Hale says buyers and sellers have “staying power” and have been “showing up rather than giving up” so far this year. That has been helping homes sell and deals close so far in 2026. (source)
