The past twelve months in the real estate industry have been a bumpy ride. Years of high rates and low sales attracted more and more people, new fights broke out over various industry rules, and technology – especially artificial intelligence – continued to evolve in dazzling ways.
But as the year drew to a close, Inman wanted to know what lay ahead. Will the market recover? Will AI take over? Will 2026 be a good or a bad year?
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No one has a crystal ball, of course, but to gain insight into the months ahead, Inman asked a sample of real estate industry leaders in recent days about their predictions for 2026. The question was open-ended, meaning respondents could focus on any topic they wanted.
Ultimately, predictions ranged from a market recovery to the emergence of better technology and more. But one thing was clear: no one expects 2026 to be quiet.
What follows is a sampling of leaders’ responses to Inman, lightly edited for style and clarity.
The market may change, but it still faces challenges
Leaders were divided on how good or bad the market could be in 2026 – although some at least believe a recovery could gain momentum.
Kuba Jewgieniew, CEO, Realty One Group
Twenty-six marks the comeback of real estate. Lower interest rates are reigniting demand, bringing back several offers – especially in affordable markets, with transaction growth exceeding 20 percent – and luxury is following suit at similar levels. Capital rotates out of the volatile stock market into tangible assets. Housing is in demand again.
Creating wealth over the next two to three years will be meaningful for those in the early stages. Real estate headlines are returning. New agents are coming in. The winners won’t be the loudest; they will be the best coached, most disciplined and most human. Markets reward clarity, consistency and culture. Noise fades. Execution wins.
Kevelyn Guzman, Regional Vice President, Coldwell Banker Warburg
Prices will likely remain the same in 2026. Even if interest rates fall, this does not automatically lead to higher prices. What it does result in is that more people come to the market. More participation leads to more transactions, not higher prices. Homes that are priced correctly will sell; those mispriced will wait. The story of 2026 is not about price growth; it involves increased activity.
Leo Pareja, CEO, eXp Realty
We are currently in the third year of a five-year reset. The double shock of the price increase in 2020 and the interest rate increase in 2022 has crushed affordability, and the market is still recalibrating.
For 2026, I am pessimistically pragmatic: we will see a neutral market with a supply of four to five months, where neither buyers nor sellers have the upper hand. Although sales will rise slightly from the trough, a meaningful recovery will likely take another year. This year requires disciplined execution; Success belongs to agents who can guide clients through a slowing economy.
Rules and practices will continue to evolve
Some of the biggest stories of 2025 had to do with industry regulations – things like Clear Cooperation or MLS access. Others dealt with structural issues – so things like major mergers or portal policies – that determine who determines the normative behavior of real estate.
Leaders who focused their forecasts on these types of topics anticipated that many of these stories would continue into the new year, potentially meaning more change on the horizon for those in the trenches of the real estate industry.
Russ Cofano, co-founder and director of Alloy Advisors
In 2026, Google will likely continue to expand listing information in search results, prompting Zillow to buy a major mortgage servicer to strengthen its post-closing relationships and compete with Rocket. The Compass/Anywhere merger should be completed, and the dispute over displaying “private exclusives” on Zillow will likely be resolved in a way that allows for display.
Finally, NAR’s recent MLS policy changes and antitrust concerns will cause many local associations and MLSs to drop the broker membership requirement for MLS access, which will result in more companies and agents leaving NAR.
Daniel Jones, CEO of Hive MLS
The benefit in 2026 will go to those who own the roads, write the traffic laws and collect the tolls. It’s no longer about being the loudest or the biggest. MLSs will need to value their data and take pride in the quality of their data.
They will have to focus on subscriber (member) loyalty, data quality and access control. All the reasons why we need this kind of single-minded focus will become clear in 2026 to those paying close attention.
Artificial intelligence and other technologies will be introduced
The most common topics real estate leaders brought up when asked about 2026 predictions were related to technology. Most predict that AI will continue to make inroads into the real estate industry in particular, with the winners typically being those who learn how to leverage new tools.
Erik Carlson, CEO of REMAX
Real estate will remain a relationship-driven business in 2026, where exceptional customer experience will still be a key differentiator. This year will revolutionize the way agents combine high-touch service with intelligent, AI-powered engagement. More agents will rely on AI to streamline marketing, social media and brand building – and as market dynamics evolve, the value of these systems will increase.
A strong global network and growing referral platform will create additional opportunities. While technology will increase efficiency, trusted professionals with strong systems and relationships will increase effectiveness and continue to drive the industry forward.
Jim Crisera, CEO, renowned
26 years will be the year of ‘The Race for AI Discoverability’. As AI chatbots and generative search redefine the way consumers find real estate expertise, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is becoming the new gold standard.
Our December 2025 survey highlights this shift: 79 percent of agents believe AI discoverability is critical to their success. In 2026, the competitive advantage will lie with agents who prioritize GEO to ensure their agents’ unique expertise is surfaced, cited and recommended by AI. Success now depends on being the “local expert answer” in an AI-powered world.
Michael Minard, CEO and owner, Delta Media
By 2026, AI will be the thread driving the biggest changes in residential real estate. Profitable brokers will acquire AI-challenged competitors, top teams will dominate a recovering resale market by working smarter, and franchises will feel pressure as traditional technology and training lose their relevance.
At the same time, scrutiny of NAR contributions will continue to increase. After 25 years of building B2B software and marketing solutions for this industry, I see AI as the defining force that separates adaptable leaders from those who are slow to develop.
Ben Caballero, CEO and Owner, HomesUSA.com
By 2026, the biggest shift in new home sales won’t be more technology; it will be who controls it. Builders go beyond superficial digital upgrades and demanding systems that deliver accuracy, speed and real accountability across every sales channel.
As margins tighten, many will find that fragmented tools and customized solutions create more friction than benefit. The winners will be builders who rely on proven, purpose-built technology that integrates data, marketing and distribution, allowing their teams to sell faster, price smarter and stay focused on what matters most: moving, not managing technology.
Sam DeBord, CEO, RESO
By 2026, the real estate technology industry will begin to accept that search and discovery will be more about user experience and less about raw distribution size. There are countless options for finding homes for sale. The winning strategy is to make that search accurate, comprehensive and timely.
It doesn’t matter how many search and AI engines a listing platform has available. The loyalty created among consumers based on their positive interactions within a platform will continue to drive the industry’s technology toward better consumer focus.
Kevin Greene, Managing Director of Real Estate Solutions, Cotality
The real question for 2026 in real estate is not whether an agent uses AI. It’s basically, “Is their AI powered by reliable, enterprise data?” At Cotality, we are actively seeing first-time and Gen Z homebuyers using AI to validate, visualize and assess risk in their biggest financial decisions.
Agents will not be replaced; they will evolve into strategic advisors, freed from manual tasks through automation and predictive insights. Our prediction for 2026 is that agents who rely on high-quality property-level data sets will look like superheroes in an often stressful process.
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