Signals are pointing toward improved conditions for buyers in 2026, with expectations that more homeowners who waited to sell may finally return to the market. More supply could ease pressure in some areas, even as affordability remains a challenge in many regions.
Ken Harthausen, President of the Builder Division at NewDay Home, discussed why the market is showing more positive signs, including gradually declining mortgage rates and steady employment, while noting that rising construction and resale costs could keep first-time affordability tight. He also pointed to newer homebuying solutions helping veterans reduce upfront costs, including options that eliminate upfront closing costs in some cases.