The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has released its latest report, Housing Hot Spots for 2026: The Markets Poised for New Buyer Opportunities, highlighting the top U.S. markets expected to offer the strongest opportunities for homebuyers in the coming year.
According to NAR’s forecast, existing-home sales are projected to rise by 14% in 2026, while home prices are expected to increase by approximately 4%. The report points to improving affordability, declining mortgage rates, and increased housing inventory as key drivers behind renewed buyer activity.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun unveiled the findings during the organization’s seventh annual Real Estate Forecast Summit: The Year Ahead, where he also shared insights into the broader economic and housing outlook for 2026.
The Top 10 Homebuying Hot Spots for 2026
(Listed alphabetically)
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Charleston, South Carolina
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Charlotte, North Carolina–South Carolina
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Columbus, Ohio
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Indianapolis, Indiana
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Jacksonville, Florida
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Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota–Wisconsin
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Raleigh, North Carolina
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Richmond, Virginia
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Salt Lake City, Utah
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Spokane, Washington
These markets stood out by outperforming the national average in at least five out of ten key economic, demographic, and housing indicators. Each metro area has a population exceeding 250,000 and shows strong potential for both buyers and REALTORS® in 2026.
Why These Markets Stand Out
“Lower mortgage rates and increased inventory will help bring buyers back into the market in 2026,” said Yun. “The top housing hot spots combine strong demand, improving affordability, and—most importantly—a supply of homes that aligns with the budgets of returning buyers.”
In other words, these markets are well-positioned to balance buyer demand with realistic pricing and available housing stock.
National Housing Outlook for 2026
NAR’s broader forecast paints an optimistic picture for the housing market:
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Existing-home sales: Expected to increase by 14%
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Home prices: Projected to rise by about 4%
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Mortgage rates: Anticipated to decline toward 6%
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Job growth: Estimated at approximately 1.3 million new jobs
“After three years of relatively flat home sales, a strong double-digit increase is expected in 2026,” Yun noted. “Higher inventory levels, modest affordability improvements, and a more supportive monetary policy from the Federal Reserve should help more Americans achieve homeownership.”
How NAR Identified the 2026 Housing Hot Spots
The rankings are based on a comprehensive analysis of 10 key economic, demographic, and housing indicators, including:
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Percentage of millennial households
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Household income growth
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Job growth trends
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Sensitivity to lower mortgage rates
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Domestic migration as a share of population
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Share of home sales with price reductions
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Listings-to-income alignment (and year-over-year change)
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Mortgage payment versus rent ratio
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Growth in single-family home permits
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Growth in mortgage originations
About the National Association of REALTORS®
The National Association of REALTORS® represents professionals across all sectors of residential and commercial real estate. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark identifying real estate professionals who are members of NAR and adhere to its strict Code of Ethics.
Consumers can access free educational resources on buying and selling real estate—including buyer agreements and compensation negotiations—at facts.realtor.