Contract signings were up in all four U.S. regions. 

Evidence points to home shoppers prioritizing the experiences they’ll have in their home over the style or size, Zillow said.

The National Association of Home Builders’ monthly survey found continued pessimism among the nation’s homebuilders at the end of a tough year. 

Midwestern and southern metros may dominate buyer interest in 2026, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Miami placed No. 3, just behind Orlando and Las Vegas.

Geographically, trends varied widely, with formerly hot areas like Florida and the Southeast posting the deepest declines and formerly cool areas, like the Midwest, showing healthy gains.

Spa-style amenities, customizable lighting options, integrated technology, storage solutions — and ample space for these features — all surfaced as top trends.

By region, sales rose in the Midwest, Northeast and South but fell in the West. 

Bold, geometric designs like chevrons, sunbursts, zigzags and stepped shapes are making a huge comeback as of late — and Houzz said that will continue into 2026.

Buyers from 73 countries accounted for 52% of new construction sales during the past 22 months.

The chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS® also predicts home prices will climb 4% compared to 2025. 

At the same time, the average age of the first-time buyer hit an all-time high of 40, according to the 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. 

At the top of the list? WaterSense fixtures — the plumbing solution, which claims to reduce water use by more than 20%, increased in popularity by 289.6%.

The association’s research shows that normal supply-and-demand trends led to Miami’s current high prices, rather than an unsustainable bubble like the one associated with the Great Recession.

Nationwide, the median price for a single-family home increased 1.7% year over year to $426,800. Prices increased by the same annual rate during the second quarter.

The countries took the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, followed by Colombia.