NAR Predicts Housing Market Bounceback in 2026

Key Concepts

Housing Market Rebound (2026)
Existing Home Sales
New Home Sales
Home Prices
Job Growth
Buyer Demand
Mortgage Applications
Housing Inventory
Reventure Forecast

National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2026 Housing Market Forecast

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is predicting a rebound in the housing market for 2026. Their forecast includes:

A 14% increase in existing home sales.
A 5% increase in new home sales.
A 4% increase in home prices. This optimistic outlook is partly based on the expectation that the US will gain 1.3 million jobs in the coming year.

Current State of Buyer Demand and Mortgage Applications

Despite the NAR's positive outlook, the current state of buyer demand presents a significant challenge.

Home sales are currently down approximately 30% from their pandemic peak.
They are also down 25% from their long-term average. However, there are encouraging signs regarding mortgage applications.
Mortgage applications to buy a house have trended upwards by about 30% compared to a year ago.
Despite this increase, the current level of mortgage applications is still about 35% below pre-pandemic norms, indicating a substantial gap in demand.

Housing Inventory Trends

The inventory of homes on the US housing market is steadily increasing.

As of October 2025, there are over 1.1 million active listings.
This represents the highest inventory level since 2019. This rising inventory could potentially benefit buyers, suggesting a possible rebound in the market from a buyer's perspective.

Reventure Forecast and Regional Price Predictions

In contrast to the NAR's general optimism, Reventure is forecasting a different scenario, particularly concerning prices.

Reventure predicts that home prices are likely to drop.
This price decline is expected to be more pronounced in states located in the South and Southwest.

Actionable Insights and Further Information

For those seeking more specific information about their local housing market:

Reventure offers detailed forecasts for individual areas.
Users can access these forecasts by visiting www.reventure.app and upgrading their account.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The housing market in 2026 presents a mixed outlook. The National Association of Realtors anticipates a rebound with increased sales and prices, supported by projected job growth. However, current buyer demand, while showing some improvement in mortgage applications, remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The rising housing inventory is a positive sign for buyers. Conversely, Reventure's forecast suggests a potential decline in home prices, especially in the South and Southwest. Prospective buyers and sellers should consider these differing perspectives and consult localized data for informed decision-making.