According to Realtor.com’s 2026 Housing Forecast Midyear Update, existing-home sales are expected to total 4.10 million as year-over-year growth improves in the second half of the year. Existing-home sales steadied in April before climbing in May. Year-to-date, existing-home sales are currently just 0.2% ahead of their prior year pace.
The report expects growth to pick up in the second half of 2026, though by less than originally forecasted. As a result, existing-home sales are expected to grow 1.0% to an annual total of 4.10 million.
The May existing-home sales data not only showed a pick-up in sales, but also greater participation from first-time homebuyers who were 35% of purchases, up from 30% in the prior year. Combined with a higher-than-expected homeownership rate of 65.3% in the first quarter, this trend prompted an upward revision in Realtor.com’s outlook for homeownership across the full year.
