Marketplace Morning Report A housing roundup and lookahead
Dec 30, 2025
Amy Scott, a Marketplace reporter specializing in housing market insights, dives into the sluggish 2025 housing market. She discusses how, despite lower mortgage rates, affordability remains a hurdle, keeping potential sellers from entering the market. Excitingly, forecasts hint at a modest pickup in sales for 2026, but there are uncertainties surrounding job stability, inflation, and tariffs that could impact this outlook. Additionally, the podcast touches on the recent cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover, highlighting vulnerabilities in the global auto supply chain.
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Market Sluggish From Affordability Pressures
- The housing market was overall sluggish this year with big regional differences and flat sales.
- Affordability and pandemic-era ultra-low mortgage rates kept many buyers sidelined and sellers reluctant to move.
Modest Sales Pickup Expected In 2026
- Economists expect a modest 1–3% sales pickup in 2026 while the NAR predicts a much larger 14% rise.
- Many foresee mortgage rates staying low-to-mid 6% and prices rising more slowly than incomes, improving affordability.
Redfin's 'Great Housing Reset' Forecast
- Redfin predicts a multi-year 'great housing reset' starting in 2026 with gradually improving affordability.
- The reset aims to return the market toward more normal dynamics after years of distortion.