Overview

Let’s talk about the May housing forecast. We’re not looking at a runaway market, but we are seeing the kind of inventory growth that can help keep inspection teams moving. 

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), April existing home sales totaled 354,000. That’s up +7.6% from revised March, with March revised to 329,000 from an initial 327,000, and up +1.4% YoY compared to 349,000 in April 2025. 

Inventory is the number to watch. NAR reported 1.47 million units of active inventory in April, up +5.8% from March and +1.4% higher than a year ago. Zillow tracked 1.3 million active listings, also up +5.8% from March and +3.7% higher than a year ago. Zillow also reported this as the 28th consecutive month of annual inventory gains. 

For a busy inspection company, more inventory usually means more chances for buyers to write offers, schedule inspections, and move through the transaction process. But timing still matters. Zillow reported that homes took a median of 17 days to go pending in April, which was one day longer than a year earlier and two days shorter than March. 

Prices are still holding, nationally. NAR reported the national median existing home price at $417,700, up +0.9% YoY and marking the 34th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. The Northeast led with a +4.8% gain to $510,800, while the Midwest posted +3.6% growth to $324,500. The South was nearly flat at +0.4% to $366,600, and the West was down -1.4% to $619,600. 

Mortgage rates remain part of the pricing pressure. Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) continue to project 30-year mortgage rates in the mid-6% range through 2026-2027. Fannie Mae expects an average of 6.3% in 2026 and 6.2% in 2027. MBA forecasts 6.1% in Q1 2026, rising to 6.4%–6.5% through year-end, and 6.5% in 2027. The Freddie Mac weekly average was 6.18% in March, rising to 6.46% in early April before dropping back to 6.23% by late April. 

NAR reported 4.02 million existing home sales on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis for April 2026, up +0.2% from revised March at 4.01 million and flat YoY compared to April 2025 at 4.02 million. 

Current Forecasts

Forecasts for 2026 Home Sales (May ’26 forecast) 

• NAR: +4.0% (4.22 million existing home sales vs. 4.06 million) – revised April 2026 

• MBA: +3.3% (4.91 million total home sales vs. 4.76 million) – May ’26 forecast 

• Fannie: +2.1% (4.85 million total home sales vs. 4.76 million) – May ’26 forecast 

• Zillow: +0.5% (4.08 million existing home sales vs. 4.06 million) – May ’26 forecast 

Forecasts for 2027 Home Sales (May ’26 forecast) 

• MBA: +6.6% (5.23 million total home sales vs. 4.91 million) – May ’26 forecast 

• Fannie: +6.7% (5.18 million total home sales vs. 4.85 million) – May ’26 forecast 

MBA Forecast for Mortgage Originations (May ’26 forecast) 

• 2026 Total Mortgage Originations: +4.2% (5.69 million loans vs. 5.46 million) 

• Purchase: +2.3% (3.53 million loans vs. 3.45 million) 

• Refi: +7.4% (2.16 million vs. 2.01 million) 

• 2027 Total Mortgage Originations: -0.3% (5.67 million loans vs. 5.69 million) 

• Purchase: +5.9% (3.73 million loans vs. 3.53 million) 

• Refi: -10.3% (1.94 million vs. 2.16 million) 

Bottom line for multi-inspector teams 

The market is giving inspection teams a steadier setup: more inventory, slightly higher non-seasonally adjusted sales, and forecasts that still show growth ahead. But this is not the time to wing it. With purchase originations forecast to rise +2.3% in 2026 and +5.9% in 2027, the teams with cleaner scheduling, faster communication, and better operational control will be in the best position to handle the work when volume builds.