US housing market 2026: rising prices and fastest‑growing cities

Redfin data show that median home prices continued to climb in 2026, with Columbia, Missouri reaching a median sale price of $334,070 – a 17.2% year‑over‑year increase – while the national median rose to $396,173, up 2.4% YoY.

In California, Stacker’s Zillow‑based ranking identified the 50 fastest‑growing markets; the top‑five include San Anselmo (+$63,701, +3.9% YoY), El Segundo (+$63,996, +3.8%), Ladera Heights (+$64,081, +3.9%), Cupertino (+$65,980, +2.2%) and Belmont (+$66,147, +2.9%). Texas saw similar gains, with Andrews (+$18,674, +7.6%), Graford (+$18,767, +2.9%), Wildorado (+$18,789, +5.8%), Buffalo Gap (+$18,817, +7.4%) and Port Mansfield (+$19,019, +7.7%).

In Colorado Springs, single‑family homes sold the quickest, averaging 43 days on market, compared with 65 days for condos and 57 days for townhouses. Yuma, Arizona recorded a median price of $300,283, a 4.5% YoY rise, still below the national median of $429,526.

A Mortgage Bankers Association white paper warns that falling birth rates and restricted immigration could create a buyer shortage by the 2030s, potentially turning the current shortage into an oversupply. The MBA projects just 1% price growth in 2026 and flat prices thereafter, while rental vacancy rates have risen to 7.3% in 2025.