Midwestern and southern metros may dominate buyer interest in 2026, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

The move was expected, but came amid increasing dissention among Fed officials, who voted for the cut by the sharpest division in six years.

The average commission was up from a recent low in third quarter 2024 that followed the NAR settlement. 

Geographically, trends varied widely, with formerly hot areas like Florida and the Southeast posting the deepest declines and formerly cool areas, like the Midwest, showing healthy gains.

Spa-style amenities, customizable lighting options, integrated technology, storage solutions — and ample space for these features — all surfaced as top trends.

By region, sales rose in the Midwest, Northeast and South but fell in the West. 

Inside, the house includes original retro features like wood paneling, built-in bookshelves, a brick fireplace and an eat-in kitchen perfect for enjoying Eggos.

The association made local MLSs responsible for deciding whether non-Realtors may access their platforms as part of a suite of changes aimed at reducing antitrust risk. 

The chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS® also predicts home prices will climb 4% compared to 2025. 

As part of the relaunch, Rate announced the results of a study it conducted, which found almost seven in 10 homebuyers said homeownership keeps them up at night. 

Nationwide, the median price for a single-family home increased 1.7% year over year to $426,800. Prices increased by the same annual rate during the second quarter.

The Federal Reserve trimmed its federal funds rate from 4% to 3.75% as it seeks maximum employment and inflation of 2%. 

Given the rate of sales, the nation had a 4.6-month housing supply, up from 4.2 months a year prior.

Tapping into Realtor intel, Zillow analyzed its listing database for keywords that are increasing most in popularity heading into the new year.

Royal’s 30 years of industry experience include her stint as vice president of agent development for Coldwell Banker’s Chicago City Region.

Agent Publishing Founder and Publisher Anne Hartnett discusses Brokerage Culture with Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty’s Val Burmester, Rachel Schindler and Dean Jones.