February’s numbers are in, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the inspection world. We aren’t seeing a massive surge in sales yet, but the market is definitely waking up from its winter nap.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing home sales hit 257,000 in February. That’s a solid +12.7% jump from January, which is a good sign for your inspection schedule, even if the total volume is flat compared to last year. The real win for inspectors is inventory. Zillow reports that active listings hit 1.12 million, up +5% YoY. More houses for sale means more opportunities for you to get on-site.
Homes are sitting for about 28 days before going pending, per Zillow data. That’s 4 days longer than last year, but way faster than January. NAR notes that prices are holding steady at a national median of $398,000, up just +0.3% YoY.
On the financing side, Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) have revised their outlooks slightly downward for 30-year mortgage rates. Fannie Mae now expects rates to hover near 6% through early 2026 before declining gradually toward the 5% range through 2027, while MBA forecasts the 30-year fixed rate to stabilize in the ~6.0%–6.3% range through 2027.
Current Forecasts
Forecasts for 2026 Home Sales (March ’26 forecast)
- NAR: +14.0% (4.63 million existing home sales vs. 4.06 million)
- MBA: +5.1% (5 million total home sales vs. 4.76 million)
- Fannie: +2.7% (4.89 million total home sales vs. 4.76 million)
- Zillow: +4.4% (4.24 million existing home sales vs. 4.06 million)
Forecasts for 2027 Home Sales (March ’26 forecast)
- MBA: +5.1% (5.25 million total home sales vs. 5 million)
- Fannie: +8.3% (5.29 million total home sales vs. 4.89 million)
MBA Forecast for Mortgage Originations (March ’26 forecast)
- 2026 Total Mortgage Originations: +4.1% (5.68 million loans vs. 5.46 million)
- Purchase: +2.3% (3.53 million loans vs. 3.45 million)
- Refi: +7.2% (2.16 million vs. 2.01 million)
2027 Total Mortgage Originations:
- +0.9% (5.73 million loans vs. 5.68 million)
- Purchase: +6.6% (3.76 million loans vs. 3.53 million)
- Refi: -8.4% (1.98 million vs. 2.16 million)
Bottom line for inspectors
We aren’t seeing a massive surge yet, but the market is finding its footing. With inventory up +5% and mortgage rates expected to stabilize around 6%, the groundwork is being laid for a steady season. For the solo inspector and small inspection shops looking to grow their businesses, this is the time to make sure your gear is ready and your calendar is open as more houses finally hit the market.
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