Real estate shift: Katrina Campins on 2026 market rebalancing to favor buyers

February 17, 2026 - 03:11

Real estate expert Katrina Campins recently outlined the dual forces reshaping the American housing landscape: a generation pausing their purchase plans and a significant market rebalancing ahead.

Campins highlighted that many members of Gen Z are strategically delaying homeownership. This decision is driven by a combination of high home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and a desire for greater financial flexibility in their younger years. Rather than rushing into the market, this cohort is often prioritizing saving and career establishment before taking on a mortgage.

Looking forward, Campins predicts a pivotal shift coming to the broader market by 2026. She anticipates a rebalancing that will tilt conditions in favor of buyers. This expected change is rooted in a projected increase in housing inventory. As more homes become available for sale, the intense, multi-bid competition that has characterized recent years is forecasted to ease, providing buyers with more options and negotiating power.

This combination of shifting generational behaviors and evolving market fundamentals points to a significant transformation in the real estate sector within the next few years. The current challenges for young buyers may well give way to a more accessible and balanced market by the middle of the decade.