Real Wealth Show: Real Estate Investing Podcast 2026 Housing Market Outlook With Rick Sharga: Investor Sentiment, Prices & Rates
10 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
Rick Sharga, a housing-market expert, joins to dissect the 2026 housing market outlook. He reveals that many investors are cautiously optimistic, with some shifting from fix-and-flip strategies to rentals due to market changes. Most expect modest price gains of 1-5%, while mortgage rates are anticipated to stay around the mid-to-low six percent range. Sharga discusses the importance of monitoring local politics and economic trends, and argues that data does not support fears of a major housing crash.
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Flippers Shifting Toward Rentals
- Many former fix-and-flip investors are shifting to buy-and-hold rentals due to scarce distressed inventory and higher carrying costs.
- Rick Sharga says market realities, not ideology, are driving this strategic conversion.
Hold A Year To Lower Taxes
- Hold properties at least a year to reduce tax hit from flipping when feasible.
- Kathy Fettke and Rick Sharga note rising rates and costs can eliminate many traditional buyers, favoring hold strategies.
Investors Make Up Larger Share
- Investors bought 34.5% of single-family homes last quarter even though investor purchases declined year-over-year.
- Rick Sharga attributes this to traditional buyer withdrawal rather than a surge in investor demand.