Economists Forecast Mixed Housing Outlook For 2026

Economists polled this week forecast mixed housing conditions for 2026, citing mortgage-rate declines mid-year and modest price changes. Most expect two to three Federal Reserve rate cuts beginning around June 2026, with typical mortgage averages near 5.5–6.0% and regional home-price gains of roughly 2–3%. They warn capital-intensive sector growth and constrained labor-force expansion could temper broader housing demand.