U.S. housing market sales were almost flat throughout 2025, but a rebound may be on the way, according to Realtor.com.
Existing home sales are expected to rise by 1.7% in 2026, a modest turnaround in a market that will continue to suffer from high prices and financing costs, Realtor.com says.
Of course, all real estate is local. That means that while some markets will see rising prices, others will likely experience a price plunge.
Here are nine markets where prices may fall by up to 10% in 2026 — and metros where things should heat up.
1. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
Cape Coral-Fort Myers is expected to see prices fall 10.2% in 2026. The Wall Street Journal recently dubbed Cape Coral the “worst housing market in America,” with almost 8% of owners owing more on their mortgages than the homes are worth.
2. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Prices will sink an estimated 8.9% in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton during 2026. The good news is that as prices fall here, sales appear to be increasing.
3. Stockton-Lodi, Calif.
Values in Stockton-Lodi should tumble by 4.1% in 2026. Prices already had fallen 3.3% as of late 2025, according to Realtor.com.
4. Raleigh, N.C.
Raleigh home shoppers may find more bargains in 2026, as prices are estimated to slip by 3.7%. Even if prices fall modestly, that won’t necessarily make them affordable. In recent years, home price growth has far outpaced income growth, according to The News & Observer.
5. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is another of several Florida housing markets facing tough times, with prices expected to fall 3.6% in 2026. At one point last summer, Redfin reported that 14% of listings in the metro were at risk of selling at a loss.
6. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Fla.
Home prices and sales held steady in the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach market during 2025, but that trend might not continue if Realtor.com is correct. Prices are forecast to dip by 3.6% in 2026.
7. Spokane-Spokane Valley, Wash.
Home prices in Spokane-Spokane Valley are expected to fall by 3.5% in 2026. One local news report characterized the current market as “slow and expensive,” so a dip in price could get sales moving again.
8. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, Calif.
During the summer, housing sales slowed dramatically in this market, which recorded its worst level of June sales in 25 years. Home prices are likely headed south in Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, with a 3.3% decline projected for 2026.
9. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo.
Home prices in Denver are expected to stumble in 2026, falling by 3.4%. Home prices already are dipping and many sellers are pulling their listings off the market. However, experts do not expect a crash to follow.
Where home prices are expected to soar
The news will likely be better for other housing markets in 2026. Here are xxx places where prices might soon soar:
- Toledo, Ohio: 13.1%
- Syracuse, N.Y.: 12.4%
- Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, Pa.: 10.9%
- Rochester, N.Y.: 10.3%
- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn.: 9.5%
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.: 8.3%
- New Haven-Milford, Conn.: 7.7%
- Winston-Salem, N.C.: 7.7%
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.: 7.5%
- Columbia, S.C.: 7.2%
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wis.: 7.0%
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.: 6.9%
- Richmond, Va.: 6.9%
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind.: 6.6%
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C.: 6.6%
- Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio: 6.3%
- Dayton, Ohio: 6.3%
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR: 6.3%
- Birmingham-Hoover, Ala.: 6.2%
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.-N.J.: 5.9%
- New Orleans-Metairie, La.: 5.8%
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.: 5.7%
- Pittsburgh, Pa.: 5.7%
- Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.: 5.6%
- Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.: 5.4%
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.: 5.2%
- Akron, Ohio: 5.1%
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Va.-Md.-W. Va.: 5.1%
Add a Comment