Real estate 2026 outlook: Why the housing market could loosen up next year

So, let's get right into this report, Joel. So, mortgage rates, you say here, expected to stay above 6% in 2026. Your forecast, Joel, if I have this right, is 6.3% average mortgage rates next year.Let's start there, Joel. Why Why do they stay above 6%, Joel. And what does that mean for affordability next year.really we see 2026 as a year of steadying across a lot of dimensions of the housing market. Mortgage rates are one piece of that. Uh we expect uh the the Federal Reserve's cuts in December to already b ...