Featuring the perspectives of:

Shant Banosian
President, Rate

Seita Jongebloed 
Managing Director, Compass

Heather Shepherd
Sales Agent, Douglas Elliman

How do you think buyer and seller expectations will evolve in 2026 compared to what we’ve seen over the past few years?

Seita Jongebloed: Expectations in 2026 will shift from anticipating volatility to navigating a “new normal” of stability. With months of inventory hovering around six, and inventory continuing to rise, sellers will have to sharpen their focus on competitive pricing and proper preparation before going on the market. Buyers will have more leverage and selection than they have had in past years. However, buyers must adjust to mortgage rates settling between 5.9% and 6.9%. 

Heather Shepherd: By 2026, I expect both buyers and sellers to be far more informed and far more selective. Luxury buyers in Houston are no longer chasing anything that hits the market in the neighborhoods that are in high demand. I predict more than ever they will value more than ever move-in ready homes that feel turnkey or truly special!

On the seller side, expectations are becoming more realistic. The days of “test pricing” are behind us. Sellers who succeed in 2026 will understand that pricing strategy, presentation and professional marketing will matter more than ever. Luxury homes will still sell for top dollar when they’re positioned correctly in the market! 

What role do you see AI, data analytics and emerging tech playing in how agents serve clients and run their businesses by 2026?

Jongebloed: Agents who embrace tech and AI will run their businesses more efficiently, freeing up time to focus on building relationships with clients. Understanding how consumers utilize AI in real estate searches will be key to success.

Shepherd: Technology will absolutely elevate how we as agents serve our clients, but I truly believe it will never replace relationships. By 2026, I think AI and data analytics will allow us to price more precisely, anticipate buyer behavior, and tailor marketing to the right audience even more than we are already doing. It will definitely help us in many ways, but our relationships with our clients will remain the most important part of the business in my opinion.

Honestly, judgment, discretion and negotiation skills still can’t be automated. The best agents will use tech to work smarter behind the scenes while remaining deeply hands-on with clients. High-net-worth buyers and sellers want insight, not algorithms.

What steps will the industry need to take in 2026 to strengthen consumer trust and reinforce the value of Realtor representation?

Jongebloed: The industry must reduce restrictions on the marketing of listings to allow Realtors to prove their value through creative marketing strategies.

Shepherd: I believe trust is built through our relationships with our clients, and as agents we need to keep providing value and data-driven information to educate our clients. I also think it’s important for us to clearly articulate our value to our clients, such as pricing, negotiating deals with their best interests always and navigating complex transactions.

What is being done in the Houston area to assist first-time buyers? Is enough being done?

Jongebloed: As the nation’s top market for master-planned communities, first-time buyers in Houston have more options than in supply-constrained cities. The 30% increase in townhome and condominium inventory offers more accessible price points for entry-level buyers compared to single-family homes.

Shepherd: Overall, I think Houston is doing a lot for first-time home buyers, such as down-payment assistance programs and lender partnerships, but affordability remains a challenge for many, especially as insurance and taxes rise.

I truly believe educating first-time homebuyers is extremely important. They need guidance on long-term costs, not just getting into their first home, but the long-term responsibilities of owning a home and how buying a home is a great investment, but also one of the biggest purchases most people make in their lives, so it’s important to be educated and prepared.

How long will it be before sellers have the upper hand again in Houston? Will the buyer’s market persist throughout 2026?

Jongebloed: In my opinion, the market is currently balanced in Houston, though weighted slightly in favor of buyers. These conditions are likely to persist throughout 2026. Of course, there are still certain neighborhoods where sellers have more leverage than buyers.

Shepherd: I think Houston will likely remain a balanced seller and buyer market through most of 2026 and in prime luxury neighborhoods, such as River Oaks, West University, the Heights, Memorial Villages, just to name a few. Truly exceptional properties will always command attention. 

I predict Houston sellers will definitely have the upper hand in 2026 in neighborhoods with limited inventory. I’m confident the Houston market for both buyers and sellers will remain strong and balanced in 2026 as the Houston economy continues to thrive. too.

How will the CCP/private listings debates evolve in 2026?

Jongebloed: Agents will continue the hard battle to take back control of the highly valuable listing content that they produce from the portals that are monetizing them. I am hopeful that CCP restrictions will finally begin to ease in 2026.

Shepherd: I predict private listings will continue to exist, of course, particularly in the luxury market, but with greater scrutiny and clearer guidelines. Discretion will always be valuable for certain sellers, especially high-profile clients. I believe transparency and fairness will remain central to the conversation and the most successful agents will know when full exposure benefits a seller — and when privacy creates leverage. In my opinion, it’s not a one-size-fits-all on whether private listings should exist or be used when taking a home to market. It’s all about strategy and depends on the client and the home. 

What do you expect to see in the mortgage rate environment in 2026, and how might policy or Fed decisions shape consumer borrowing power?

Shant Banosian: Heading into 2026, I expect mortgage rates to stabilize in the high-5% to low-6% range as the Fed transitions from a restrictive stance to a more neutral one. Inflation has cooled, but the job market is flashing warning signings, so the Fed will remain cautious and data dependent, wanting to ensure long-term stability before aggressively cutting rates.

The real opportunity lies in spread compression, which could improve borrowing costs even if the Fed moves slowly. For consumers, that means a noticeable increase in buying power, and for lenders, an opening to re-engage both new and existing clients. The key is being ready to move fast when economic data shifts. 

Which loan products or financing structures do you believe will rise in popularity by 2026, and why?

Banosian: By 2026, affordability and creativity will drive product demand. Buydowns will continue leading the way, especially 2-1 and 1-0 structures, giving buyers early payment relief without hurting seller proceeds. We will also see growth in portfolio and [non-qualified mortgage] products such as [debt service coverage ratio], bank-statement and asset-depletion loans as more borrowers fall outside traditional income documentation. Second-lien and blended-rate options will help homeowners unlock equity without losing their low first mortgage. On the access side, down-payment assistance and multilingual lending platforms will expand reach to first-time and Spanish-speaking buyers. 

How do you see the lender-Realtor relationship evolving in 2026 to better serve clients in a competitive market?

Banosian: The most successful lender-Realtor partnerships in 2026 will be data-driven, proactive and co-branded. Agents do not just need a loan officer; they need a business partner who brings tools, insights and solutions that help convert more buyers and move stale listings. That means providing instant buydown analyses, equity alerts, loyalty tracking and property marketing assets automatically and at scale. The traditional referral-for-referral model is being replaced by a shared growth model where both sides win when deals close faster and pipelines stay full. Technology will handle the automation, and human connection will handle the trust.