12/04/2025
The U.S. homeownership rate is expected to drop again in 2026 after falling to 65.0% in Q2 2025, the lowest since 2019, per Census data. Realtor.com’s 2026 forecast predicts it will slip to an average of 64.8% next year, even with slight affordability gains.
"Although we expect to see the cost of buying a home decrease modestly in 2026 for the first time since 2020, rents are also expected to decline," says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "This means that potential first-time homebuyers trying to decide whether to buy or rent will find that renting offers significant near-term savings in most housing markets."
