Navigating today’s housing market means looking beyond the headlines. While US home prices continued to rise on paper in Q2 2026, the real story is in the details. One federal index showed no month-over-month growth from mid- to late-Q2 after seasonal adjustment. Nationally, annual appreciation reached around 1.5% in late Q2—an improvement from about 1% in mid-Q2—but still trailed inflation, which hovered near 3.5%. This means that, after accounting for inflation, home values have actually declined for the 13th month in a row. The pace of this real value erosion has slowed, thanks to lower inflation and steadier nominal gains. It’s worth noting that one federal measure has shown positive annual appreciation every quarter since early 2012, highlighting the long-term resilience of nominal prices, even as real value faces pressure. As we move into the second half of the year, affordability remains a challenge—typical monthly payments on existing single-family homes have increased again, making it tougher for first-time buyers to get their foot in the door. My approach is always to keep you informed and prepared, so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.
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