Overview

Let’s talk about the June housing forecast. We’re not looking at a market that’s taking off, but the steady climb in inventory is the number that matters most for closing volume and escrow activity this year.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), May existing home sales totaled 390,000. That’s flat compared to May 2025, but it’s up +9.6% from April — a solid monthly jump.

Inventory is the trend to watch. NAR reported active inventory at 1.55 million units in May, which works out to a 4.5-month supply and a +3.3% increase from April. For title and settlement teams, more inventory on the market typically means more contracts moving through the pipeline — more purchase agreements, more title searches, and more closings to schedule and fund.

Pricing held steady nationally. NAR put the median existing home price at $429,300, up +1.3% year-over-year.

Mortgage rates remain the key variable shaping how much of that inventory converts into closed transactions. Fannie Mae expects 30-year fixed rates to average 6.3% over the next two years, while the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) projects an average of 6.5% through 2026 and 2027.

Current Forecasts

Forecasts for 2026 Home Sales (June ’26 forecast)

• NAR: +4.0% (4.22 million existing home sales vs. 4.06 million) – revised April 2026
• MBA: +3.1% (4.90 million total home sales vs. 4.75 million)
• Fannie Mae: +1.3% (4.81 million total home sales vs. 4.75 million)
• Zillow: -0.4% (4.04 million existing home sales vs. 4.06 million)

Forecasts for 2027 Home Sales (June ’26 forecast)

• MBA: +6.8% (5.23 million total home sales vs. 4.90 million)
• Fannie Mae: +6.6% (5.13 million total home sales vs. 4.81 million)

MBA Forecast for Mortgage Originations (June ’26 forecast)

• 2026 Total Mortgage Originations: +4.4% (5.70 million loans vs. 5.46 million)
  • Purchase: +3.5% (3.57 million loans vs. 3.45 million)
  • Refi: +6.0% (2.13 million vs. 2.01 million)
• 2027 Total Mortgage Originations: -0.4% (5.67 million loans vs. 5.70 million)
  • Purchase: +4.8% (3.74 million loans vs. 3.57 million)
  • Refi: -9.1% (1.94 million vs. 2.13 million)

Sources: NAR, MBA, Fannie Mae, Zillow — June 2026 forecasts.

Bottom line for title and escrow teams

The market is handing title and settlement companies a steadier runway: rising inventory, a meaningful monthly bump in sales, and forecasts that point to sustained growth through 2027. But steady growth isn’t the same as easy growth. With purchase originations forecast to climb +3.5% in 2026 and +4.8% in 2027, the agencies with tighter reconciliation, stronger escrow controls, and cleaner operational reporting will be the ones equipped to scale their closing volume without adding risk.