Ugly Housing Statistics: Sales Plunge, Rates Rise

Ugly Housing Statistics: Sales Plunge, Rates Rise

Investor 路 Fort Lauderdale, FL 路 Member since 2013 路 917 posts 路 607 votes

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Mortgage applications are down 41% from the same period in 2019.
June pending sales fell year over year鈥攖he second-worst June on record.
Google searches for homes continue to decline.
The Homebuyer Demand Index has slipped back to 8 out of 100, near an all-time low.

Taken together, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the weakest summer housing markets in years. Concerning, because the summer buying season is typically the strongest time of the year. As we move into late summer and fall, sales activity usually slows even further. That means existing home sales could once again fall below a 4 million annualized pace.

But. . .when "bad news" is good news. . .if you're one of the many new and aspiring investors waiting for the market to "improve," it already has. Just not for sellers.
Weak demand creates motivated sellers. Motivated sellers create flexibility. And flexibility creates opportunity.

The next several months are likely to bring more inventory, more price reductions, more seller concessions, and more Accidental Landlords, especially throughout much of the South and West.

If you've been waiting for easier conversations and better terms, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for. The biggest opportunities won't necessarily come from lower prices. They'll come from sellers who are finally willing to negotiate the terms they refused six months ago.

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Flipper/Rehabber 路 CA 路 Member since 2023 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
2mo

This is to be expected considering the poor economic policies over the last 15 yrs +-. The same environment happened after inflation of 70's/80's. There are so many different housing markets that macro data isn't important. Its always a great time to invest, strategies have to adapt to specific markets.

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  • Jaron WallingPro Member
    Rental Property Investor 路 Indianapolis, IN 路 Member since 2018 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    2mo

    @Michael Carbonare We're aiming to buy another distressed property this fall so this data is encouraging in that regard. 

    That said I wish we had a balanced RE market because this hurts agents and other professionals who making a living off transaction volume. In my opinion the political agenda coming from the White House is killing motivation for prospective home buyers and investors. Our county needs inspiration and truth, not lies and destruction of national parks. 

  • Flipper/Rehabber 路 CA 路 Member since 2023 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    2mo

    This is to be expected considering the poor economic policies over the last 15 yrs +-. The same environment happened after inflation of 70's/80's. There are so many different housing markets that macro data isn't important. Its always a great time to invest, strategies have to adapt to specific markets.

  • John MorganPro Member
    Rental Property Investor 路 Grand Prairie, TX 路 Member since 2018 路 2k+ posts 路 2k+ votes
    2mo

    I expect things to remain like this until interest rates come down around 6% or less. Right now there is too much uncertainty in the economy. Especially with high inflation due to higher oil prices and the Iran war. I bought 6 buy n hold SFR so far in 2026 because I have almost no competition and was able to negotiate really low prices. I'll keep snapping up good cash flowing houses that I can get due to lack of competition and motivated sellers.

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