New Zillow Forecast: Best and Worst Housing Markets of 2026
On The Market
When Flat Prices Plus Rising Rents Help Cash Flow
Dave advises pairing price and rent data: flat/falling prices with rising rents can improve cash flow for buy-and-hold investors.
The national housing correction is here but your results will be decided locally. Some markets are cooling gently, others are slipping fast, and a few affordable metros are still running warm. So where does that leave buy-and-hold, flips, STRs, and BRRRRs? We map the dramatic regional split, Midwest/Northeast steadier, Gulf Coast/Texas under pressure, and show how to match your strategy to on-the-ground realities like inventory, rent growth, and affordability.
You’ll hear why “flat prices + rising rents” can be a green light for cash flow, when to take a calculated swing in oversold-but-strong-fundamentals cities (think Austin/Nashville/Dallas), and where supply and insurance costs are pushing deeper discounts (hello, Florida). We also dig into metro-level forecasts into 2026 and why your underwriting should look different in Milwaukee than in Miami.
In This Episode We Cover
Local > national: why the same correction looks totally different by region and price tier
Affordability & supply: the two signals driving winners and laggards (and how to measure both)
Hottest vs. coolest markets: where buyers have leverage and where demand still pops
Rents vs. prices: pairing flat/declining prices with rising rents to improve cash flow
Risk-on vs. risk-off playbooks: conservative buy boxes vs. opportunistic dips in strong cities
Flipping in a slowdown: wider spreads, longer days-on-market, how to price and pace
Forecasts into 2026: what recent metro projections imply for your next 3 - 12 months of deals
Hold or sell? Handling “paper losses,” market selection, and underwriting for a slower cycle
Links from the Show
Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
Find Investor-Friendly Lenders
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-369
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