Looking ahead to 2026, I think we’re still going to be in a challenging housing environment overall. Rates are coming down slowly, which helps, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty around the economy, tariffs, and inflation. That kind of backdrop makes it hard for the market to really take off.
Builders are going to continue to use incentives to keep things moving. We’re not oversupplied, but we’re not seeing robust demand either. Pricing should remain stable next year.
Where we are seeing activity is at both ends of the barbell: first-time buyers who can stretch to make it work, and the 55+ buyer who’s moving down. That older buyer is largely discretionary, but we’re seeing more of them come back into the market, especially the younger retirees, the Gen Xers turning 60. That group has high homeownership rates, a lot of equity, and they’re making lifestyle moves.
They’re downsizing, moving closer to family, or looking for easier living situations.
The 55+ market is very diverse. You have people interested in urban condos, active adult communities, rental options — even build-to-rent homes that offer low maintenance. Maintenance is a big factor for this group. They’ve been homeowners and they know what comes with that, so some are looking to rent in retirement, especially if they’re unsure how long they’ll stay.
Overall, I’d say 2026 is shaping up to be stable at best. If rates continue to ease and the labor market holds up, we might see a little more confidence come back into the market. But I wouldn’t expect a boom year. This is going to be about stability and targeted demand, especially from the move-down buyer.
