March 13, 2026
Overview
Reports and articles referenced
Housing data for download
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
- The Senate passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act. What’s next? I’m Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com® here in Austin to discuss what this could mean for buyers, sellers, and others thinking about making a move this spring season AND give you a sneak peak at our SXSW activation – if you’re in town and want to swing by you can register at realtor.com/sxsw.
- Let’s start with the economic data, the February consumer price index showed that headline inflation held steady at 2.4%. While this is one of the slowest paces of price growth we’ve seen in years, new pressures including a shifting tariff regime and geopolitical volatility are likely to stall further progress. Bracing for this, the Federal Reserve is expected to remain on hold at its March meeting.
- Inflation concerns also pushed mortgage rates higher this week. However, it is vital to keep this jump in context: rates remain more than half a percentage point lower than they were this time last year, improving purchasing power for buyers.
- Existing home sales data show that buyers have begun to respond to this relief as sales increased 1.7% in February. This momentum is likely to carry into March, but if rates rise further, there is a risk that some of these sales will be pulled forward from later in the year and momentum could fizzle.
- Looking at weekly housing data from Realtor.com, we see that buyers continue to have an increasing stock of active for-sale homes to consider even though new seller participation has been uneven and median listing prices continue to hover modestly lower than at this time last year.
- Turning to the higher end of the market, the Realtor.com February 2026 Luxury Housing Trends Report reveals that the national luxury threshold was $1.2 million, lower than last year, but up in the month as a “seasonal floor” forms. The report also highlights the areas with the lowest high-end prices–overwhelmingly, but not exclusively in the South, a contrast from coastal dominance among the highest luxury entry-price markets.
- The importance of submarket differences in housing was evident in January new construction where multi-family starts drove increases overall even as single-family starts slipped.
- From a regional perspective, the Realtor.com February 2026 Hottest Housing Markets Report shows that Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, has reclaimed a top spot on a list that continues to be dominated by the undersupplied Northeast and Midwest.
- In DC, the Senate this week advanced the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which aims to boost housing supply, and also includes a provision to limit home purchases by institutional investors. Realtor.com examined the data on these controversial home buyers and found that while there are far more institutional investors than a decade ago, these buyers have a small and shrinking footprint in the housing market. It’s highly concentrated with over half of nationwide activity occurring in just the top 10 metros.
- Finally, we released the Realtor.com 2026 Generational Wealth and Housing Report as a precursor to our SXSW thought leadership here in Austin. The report reinforces the idea that housing accelerates generational wealth. Households that purchase their first home earlier see significantly higher net worth by middle age compared to those who wait. And children of homeowners are more likely to be homeowners by age 35. If you’re in Austin and want to swing by register at realtor.com/sxsw.
- You can find the full report including videos and interactive graphics alongside our housing data for download, at realtor.com/research. You can also follow us on X (formerly twitter) for real time updates. And instagram for graphics.
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