New survey shows cautious optimism as buyers regain leverage
Real estate agents at The Real Brokerage are looking past a muted 2025 toward a busier 2026, even as buyers continue to struggle with affordability and thin inventory in many markets.
In its final monthly agent survey of the year, Real reported that 78% of respondents expect home sale transaction volumes to rise next year, and 60% anticipate further home price gains, a combination that keep pressure on borrowers even as sentiment improves.
Agents in the November survey lean toward modest growth: one third expects transactions to rise 0% to 5% in 2026, while another third forecasts a 5% to 10% increase, and 12% sees gains above 10%. Most agents also expect prices to move higher, with 33% projecting 0% to 2% appreciation and 27% calling for 2% to 5%.
“Across our November survey, agents are clearly signaling confidence in a stronger housing market in 2026,” said Tamir Poleg, chairman and CEO of Real.
“While transaction activity has yet to meaningfully rebound, sentiment remained resilient. Agents were adapting to new market realities, investing in their businesses, and positioning themselves to capitalize on an eventual recovery.”
Optimism rises even as deals lag
Real’s Agent Optimism Index climbed to 66.6 in November, up from 64.6 in October and comfortably above the 50 line that signaled a net positive outlook.
Sixty‑one percent of agents said they felt more optimistic than a month earlier. Yet Real’s Transaction Growth Index slipped to 45.8, with 43% of agents reporting fewer deals year over year, underscoring the split between sentiment and current activity.
Market power appeared to be shifting toward buyers: 54% of agents said their local markets favored buyers in November, up from 44% in October, while only 13% described seller‑friendly conditions.
Affordability concerns intensified, with 55% citing it as the primary challenge for buyers, ahead of economic uncertainty and inventory constraints.
Affordability and costs reshape agent strategies
The November findings capped a year of structural shifts captured across Real’s 2025 surveys.
Just over half of agents reported higher inventory, prompting 49% to recommend lower initial listing prices and 45% to encourage more aggressive buyer negotiations.
Private listings remained a niche tactic, with 65% of agents viewing them as suitable for fewer than 10% of homes and a majority doubting that private networks generally benefited clients.
Agents also reported running increasingly expensive businesses. Nearly one third said they spent more than $20,000 a year on non‑brokerage expenses, including client hospitality and staffing support, while 26% cited online and social media advertising as delivering the strongest return.
AI adoption accelerated, with 58% using AI tools daily, largely for marketing and client communication, and 68% pointing to time savings as the main benefit.
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