For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real.
According to Realtor.com and the Census, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next two years. And the latest data shows as many as 15% of those older Americans are planning to retire in 2026. And another 23% will do the same in 2027.
If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. And they recently crossed an important milestone. Rates officially dipped their toes into the 5s – something that hasn’t happened in about 3 years.
It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim:
And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are scooping everything up behind the scenes.
Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath waiting for things to get better. The good news? It’s finally happening.
Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy a home in the next 12 months. This year, that number rose to 17%.