Buyers or Sellers: Who Really Wins in the 2026 Housing Market?

The 2026 housing market appears calmer than past years but isn’t clearly favouring buyers or sellers.
Homes are spending longer on the market, signalling slower sales compared to the pandemic surge.
Inventory has improved but still trails pre-pandemic levels in many regions.
Markets with heavy new construction give buyers more negotiating leverage on terms, not prices.
Local conditions will shape outcomes more than national housing forecasts in 2026.