U.S. homebuilder sentiment rose slightly in March, hitting 38 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo index, but remains below the 50 mark for the 23rd consecutive month. Builders continue to face high construction costs and labor shortages, even as lower mortgage rates offer some relief.
The U.S. housing market shows mixed signals: national home sales rose modestly while payrolls fell and inflation remains elevated. California’s statewide median price fell to $823K, yet local markets like Berkeley are seeing median prices jump 8.3% YoY with homes selling in just 18 days.
Pending home sales rose 1.8% in February as mortgage rates briefly dipped near 6%, reflecting resilient demand amid tight inventory and ongoing affordability pressures. Investors should watch how rising rates and inflation influence market momentum in the coming months.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) calls it a “reawakening.” Redfin termed it a “reset.” Both say the U.S. housing market seems poised for a turnaround in 2026 as mortgage rates continue their slow decline, home sales grow and prices stabilize.
Mortgage rates dipped again this week to 6.196%, continuing a steady downward trend since the start of the year. At the same time, inventory is up 27.5% year over year, and homes are taking longer to sell—signals that price reductions may increase in the months ahead. What could this shift mean for real estate investors? Read more to see the full outlook.
In Part 2 of The Norris Group Real Estate Podcast, host Joey Romero continues the conversation with Keystone CPA managing partners Amanda Han and Matt MacFarland. They break down powerful tax strategies for real estate investors, explaining why tax planning should be a forward-looking strategy rather than just filing returns. The discussion explores how investors can use deductions, entity structuring, cost segregation, and evolving tax strategies as they scale their portfolios.
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