Real Estate Trends to Watch in 2026: What Agents Need to Know
Posted on December 2nd, 2025 by Caitlin Thornburg | Categories: General, Marketing & ZipTips
After a few years of uncertainty, elevated mortgage rates, and cautious buyers, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for real estate. The market is shifting—not back to the frenzy of 2021, but toward something more balanced and, for many agents, more promising. Whether you’re advising first-time buyers finally ready to make a move or helping sellers navigate a market that looks different depending on where they live, understanding the trends ahead will help you serve your clients better and position yourself as a trusted resource. Here’s what’s on the horizon.
Market & Economic Trends
A Comeback Year for Sales
NAR’s chief economist is forecasting a 14% nationwide increase in home sales for 2026, following 2025’s stagnating levels.1 More stable mortgage rates—expected to hover around 6%—combined with pent-up buyer demand could finally unlock the activity that’s been building for years. For agents, this means more transactions, but also more competition for listings and buyers who’ve had time to become highly informed.
Rising Costs Beyond the Mortgage
Buyers in 2026 will need to think beyond the purchase price. From 2020 to 2025, average escrow costs—what homeowners must set aside for insurance and property taxes—went up 45% nationwide2. In some states like Florida, those costs rose even higher. Agents who can help buyers understand the full picture of homeownership costs—not just principal and interest—will stand out as valuable advisors.
Buyer Demographics
First-Time Buyers Hitting 40
The profile of a first-time buyer has changed dramatically. The share of first-time home buyers plummeted to a record low of 21%, while the typical age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40 years.3 This means agents are increasingly working with older, more financially established buyers who may have different priorities—think home offices, proximity to aging parents, or space for growing families—than the young couples of previous generations.
Millennials Making Moves
Despite years of affordability challenges, millennials are showing renewed determination to enter the market. Millennials currently make up 29% of homebuyers, the largest portion across all generations.4 Many have spent years saving, building credit, and waiting for the right moment. Agents who understand this generation’s priorities—flexibility, technology, and transparency—will be well-positioned to earn their business.
Emerging Property Sectors
Senior Housing Boom
Demographics are destiny, and the numbers point to major demand ahead. With the first baby boomers turning 80 in 2026, demand for senior housing is approaching a historic inflection point.5 Developers are responding with a range of options, from active adult communities to wellness-focused, tech-enabled facilities. Agents working with older clients—or their adult children helping them transition—should familiarize themselves with these evolving options.
The Bottom Line
The real estate landscape in 2026 will reward agents who stay informed, adapt to shifting buyer profiles, and understand that the market no longer moves as one. Regional differences matter. Demographics are reshaping who’s buying—and when. And new housing models are emerging to meet demand that traditional homeownership can’t always satisfy. The agents who thrive won’t just react to these changes—they’ll anticipate them, educate their clients, and position themselves as the experts their communities need. The opportunity is there. The question is whether you’re ready to seize it.
As always, Zip Your Flyer has weathered every challenge in the real estate market for 20 years. These same top real estate agents that will need to anticipate the upcoming real estate challenges also understand that getting their listing directly in front of agents is how their listing will sell; and sell fast. Zip Your Flyer uses the industry’s most accurate real estate database to reach agents that have buyers. With real-time campaign tracking plus a 200% higher average open rate than reported industry averages, Zip Your Flyer remains the go-to source to get your listing seen by agents.
We are looking forward to 2026 and the trends to come. Agents have weathered a tougher than expected 2025 and are ready for the market to open up in 2026.
2. https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/news/housing-market-predictions-2026
4. https://www.newsweek.com/millennials-buck-generational-housing-market-trend-2079182
5. https://www.pwc.com/us/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/emerging-trends-in-real-estate-2026.html