Real Estate News 03/18/2026

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) calls it a “reawakening.” Redfin termed it a “reset.” Both say the U.S. housing market seems poised for a turnaround in 2026 as mortgage rates continue their slow decline, home sales grow and prices stabilize.

In The News:

AOL –“America's Top 10 Up-and Coming Housing Markets for 2026.“ (03-17-2026)

“U.S. housing markets are showing signs of a 2026 turnaround, with select regions outperforming national trends..”

Redfin –“Letting Sellers Test the Waters Could Boost Inventory 6-12%“ (03-13-2026)

“Allowing sellers to gauge early interest in their homes encourages more accurate pricing, which reduces the chances of homes lingering on the market and selling for below the list price..”

FORBES–“Advising Clients In The "New Normal" Housing Market: What Financial Advisors Need To Know” (03-18-2026)

“For the first time in years, mortgage rates have stabilized in the range of 5.75% to 6.6%. As of February 2026, a survey of 21 mortgage rate forecasts showed an average prediction of 6.18%, closely matching today’s average rate of 6.12%for a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage.”

Realtor–“Mortgage Applications Hits 4-Week High as Homebuyers Defy Volatility” (03-11-2026)

“Mortgage rates are holding near three-year lows, offering homebuyers a clear window of affordability.”

PR Newswire –“California Home Sales Decline in January to Lowest Level Since Mid-2025 Amid 23-Month Price Low, C.A.R Repost“(02-18-2026)

Existing, single-family home sales totaled 274,820 in February on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 7.0 percent from 256,910 in January and down 0.3 percent from 275,600 in February 2025..”