WASHINGTON–The picture for the housing market in 2026 is “not good,” according to an economist with America’s Credit Unions.
Chief Economist Curt Long has shared his forecast for the current state of the market, plus what could be in store for the rest of the year, in the trade group’s January Economic Update.
“There’s plenty of debate these days about macroeconomic conditions, and there are plenty of contradictions,” Long said. “The job market seems soft, but unemployment is still low. Consumer sentiment is poor, but households are still spending. One of the few places in the economy we can speak about definitively is housing, and the picture there is not good.”
Sector in Recession
Long said the housing sector is in a recession, with sales down 20% since before COVID, construction declining, and no growth in homebuilding sector employment.
In the forecast Long offers a detailed look at the apartment and single-family home markets and the latest on mortgage rates, as well as additional insights.
The economic update video can be watched here.
