Author: Brad Beckett

Keeping up with posting the various real estate predictions for 2026, today we take a look at Zillow’s.  In a nutshell, Zillow says the housing market should settle into a healthier state in 2026, with buyers seeing a bit more breathing room and sellers benefiting from price stability and more consistent demand. They project 4.26 million existing home sales next year and forecast that values will rise 1.2%. Indeed…and to that end here are their 10 points for ’26: Home Values Will Rise Modestly Fewer Owners Will Be Underwater as Prices Firm Up Mortgage Rates Will Hold Above 6% Existing…

The U.S. government is reporting that the national vacancy rates for Q3 2025 were 7.1% for rental housing and 1.2% for homeowner housing.  The national homeownership rate for Q3 2025 was 65.3%.  In addition, approximately 89.7% of the housing units in the United States in Q3 were occupied and 10.3% were vacant. Owner-occupied housing units made up 58.6% of total housing units, while renter-occupied units made up 31.1% of the inventory.  Vacant year-round units comprised 8% of total housing units, while 2.3% were vacant for seasonal use. Click here to read the full release at the U.S. Census Bureau.

In their 2025 Year-End Report, Rentcafe says apartment hunting remained intense across the U.S. this year, with Miami and Chicago leading the pack and Manhattan rising fast. Fortunately, flexibility & convenience are keeping renters “in the game,” even as demand for apartments continues to climb in the hottest rental markets of 2025.  So, what did the rental market look like in 2025, and what about 2026? From renters chasing big-city perks to those seeking better options in smaller locations across the country, finding a place to call home was no easy task this year — even with more than half…

According to the latest Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Home Price Insights (HPI) report, price growth in October rose 1.1%, continuing its downward trend.  In addition, they say price declines expanded from six of the 100 largest metros in January to 32 by October, marking the broadest softening of prices since the early 2010s. “Mortgage rates will play a critical role in shaping the 2026 housing market. A notable drop in mortgage rates combined with low supply could lead to a re-acceleration of price gains.” Said Dr. Selma Hepp, Cotality’s Chief Economist. Click here to read the full report at Cotality.

As the predictions for 2026 roll in Realtor.com says to expect a steadier housing market, with some caveats. They say mortgage rates are forecast to average 6.3%, easing affordability pressures slightly, while home prices will rise modestly by 2.2%. Existing-home sales should climb about 1.7% to 4.13 million.   In addition, for-sale inventory will continue to recover, up nearly 9% year over year. For homebuyers and sellers, the shift signals a more balanced market—one where price growth steadies, rate relief offers breathing room, and negotiating power tilts subtly toward buyers. Housing affordability improves as incomes outpace inflation, pushing the typical payment share of income…

Which states pay the most for electricity?  The folks at data visualizer Voronoi remind us that electricity costs vary widely across the country. These variations are from a combination of geography, infrastructure, fuel mix, and policy.  Today’s graphic ranks states based on average electricity rates – both residential & commercial.  As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Voronoi.

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal (reposted on Realtor.com) says that in Los Angeles the hottest game in town is building affordable housing – thanks to a policy that promises to streamline the approval process by cutting the previous wait time from about a year to 60 days.  According to the report, this might just change previous thinking by developers that building all-affordable housing complexes rarely makes financial sense.  Indeed… Since the city implemented the policy in December 2022, plans for about 42,300 units of affordable housing have been submitted to the city under what is known as…

According to Apartment List’s National Rent Report for December 2025, national median rent dropped 1% in November to $1,367 – the fourth consecutive month-over-month decline.  They say all of their key indicators are pointing toward ongoing sluggishness in the multifamily rental market – rent prices are down and the vacancy rate is at an all-time high.  In addition, they added that it’s likely 2025 will close out with an additional modest rent decline in December. Click here to read the full report at Apartment List.

Recent analysis from the NAHB’s Eye on Housing says aggregate residential building material prices rose at their fastest pace since January 2023.  The data came from the latest Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In addition, input energy prices increased for the first time in over a year, while service price growth remained lower than goods. Click here to read the full report at the NAHB’s Eye on Housing.

According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal income in September increased $94.5 billion (up 0.4% at a monthly rate). Disposable personal income (DPI – personal income less personal current taxes) increased $75.9 billion (up 0.3%) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $65.1 billion (0.3%).  Personal outlays (the sum of PCE, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments) increased $70.7 billion in September.  Personal saving was $1.09 trillion in September and the personal saving rate (personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income) was 4.7%. ** Editor’s Note – with the U.S. government back…