2026 Housing Market Forecast: How Weather Is Reshaping Home Prices, Insurance, and Where Americans Buy

Buyers still care about mortgage rates and home prices, but in many parts of the country, a new question is moving to the top of the checklist: Can you afford to own the home after you buy it?

More buyers are realizing that the cost of owning a home is so much more than the purchase price. It is insurance, repairs, energy bills, and the risk the home carries every year.

In 2026, the weather is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience. It is becoming a financial factor that can push some housing markets forward and pull others back.

Here is what to expect this year, and what buyers and sellers should be paying attention to.

1.) 2026 Will Be a Micro-Market Year, Not a National One