06/07/2026
🏡 The 2026 housing market isn't looking exactly like experts predicted—and that's okay.
At the end of 2025, economists expected mortgage rates to fall, affordability to improve, and home sales to rebound. Instead, ongoing inflation, economic uncertainty, and global tensions have kept rates higher than anticipated.
So what changed?
📍 Mortgage rates are expected to stay in the mid-6% range for much of the year.
📍 Home sales forecasts have been revised slightly lower as many buyers continue to wait on the sidelines.
📍 Builders are feeling the slowdown too, which means incentives, price reductions, and negotiation opportunities may still be available.
📍 Home prices? They're still expected to rise.
Why? Because while demand has softened, inventory remains relatively limited in many markets. The result is a slower market—not a declining one.
The biggest takeaway: the market hasn't stalled. It's simply adjusting to current economic conditions.
And when rates eventually stabilize, many experts expect a wave of pent-up buyer demand to return. Those waiting for the "perfect" time may find themselves competing with more buyers and fewer available homes.
Real estate is local, though. What's happening nationally may not reflect what's happening in Charlotte.
If you're wondering how these trends impact your buying or selling plans, let's talk about what the market looks like right here at home.
