The Simple Breakdown

Right now, there is a game of chicken happening in the housing market:

• The Homebuyers: They are tired of high rates. Almost everyone planning to buy this year says, “If the mortgage rate isn’t starting with a 5 (or lower), I’m out.” A huge chunk of people are still dreaming of the 3% or 4% rates from a few years ago.

• The Economy: Most experts say, “Sorry, but rates are probably going to stay stuck between 6% and 6.5% for a while.”

• The Result: Since buyers want 5.9% and the banks are offering 6.3%, many people are just sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone to blink. This could make the 2026 housing market very quiet unless rates take a sudden dip.

Will Mortgage Rates Finally Drop Enough for Buyers in 2026?

If you’ve been waiting to buy a home, you aren’t alone. A new study from Clever Real Estate shows that almost every single person planning to buy a home this year is waiting for one specific thing: lower mortgage rates.

The “Magic Number” is 6%

Most people in the survey said they would change their moving plans if mortgage rates don’t drop below 6%. Even though rates are much better than they were a year or two ago, buyers have hit their limit. In fact, about 1 in 3 buyers are holding out for a “good” rate, which they define as under 4%.

The Reality Check

While buyers are wishing for 4%, experts think rates will be “sticky” this year. This means they will likely stay right where they are—somewhere between 6% and 6.5%.

What happens next?

Because buyers want one thing and the economy is doing another, we might see a “standoff?”

• If you’re a buyer: You might have to decide if a 6.2% rate is worth it, or if you’re willing to wait months (or years) for a drop that might not happen soon.

• If you’re a seller: You might find that fewer people are touring your home until that interest rate starts with a “5.”

The Bottom Line: 2026 is going to be the year of the “Wait and See.” Whether you buy now or wait depends on how much you believe the experts—or how much you’re willing to gamble on a rate drop. To some degree it’s always been a guessing game, time will tell.