Housing Market Update What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know RIGHT NOW!!

he Truth About the Housing Market Nobody Is Talking About Audra Lambert sits down with renowned housing economist Steven Thomas (Reports on Housing) for a mid-year check-in on his 2026 housing market predictions. They cover where mortgage rates actually landed vs. what was expected, why inventory is dipping below last year's levels despite a slow market, how the Iran conflict and tariffs disrupted the spring buying season, and what the second half of 2026 could look like for buyers and sellers. If you're thinking about selling, or just trying to understand what's happening in Orange County and Southern California real estate, this is the conversation you need to hear. Watch until the end for Steven's take on whether a housing crash is actually coming and what "expected market time" really means for sellers today. Steven Thomas' YouTube channel: / @reportsonhousing website: https://reportsonhousing.com/ 🎯Want expert help or a referral to a top agent in your area? Start here: https://www.lambertgrouphomes.com/age... 💰Ready to get pre-approved? Mortgage Lender Ian Mckee | 949-996-9613 | [email protected] 🏡 Curious what your home is worth? Get a free valuation: https://hmbt.co/TaWy3g 🧡 Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more staging tips like these!: /@audralambert ---------------------------------------------------- For more information, visit http://www.LambertGroupHomes.com or give me a call at (949) 312-4541. 💁‍♀️ My name is Audra Lambert, a top real estate agent in Orange County, California, with 20+ years of experience helping sellers prepare, stage, and sell for top dollar. 📍 DRE#01909872 | Realty One Group West 📞 949-312-4541 | 💌 [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------- Free resources & tools 📋 Download our FREE Resource Kit for Sellers & Buyers: https://www.lambertgrouphomes.com/aud... ❓ Ask Audra your questions: https://www.lambertgrouphomes.com/aud... 🛒 Shop my favorite home and staging products (affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/shop/audralamb... *This video isn't sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, we'll receive a small commission. ---------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro — 2026 halftime housing market check-in 0:45 Meet Steven Thomas — economist & founder of Reports on Housing 2:02 Prediction #1: Mortgage rates settling in the low 6% range — did it happen? 3:37 Why AI fears slowed buyer demand at the start of the year 4:45 Rate outlook for the rest of 2026 and the Strait of Hormuz wildcard 5:45 New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh — what to expect 8:00 Where inflation really stands (CPI vs PCE explained) 9:32 Prediction #2: Rising inventory — is it still happening nationally? 10:45 Closed sales compared to the Great Recession — what the data shows 13:07 Will the housing market crash? The 3 ingredients it would take 16:48 Why are so many homes being pulled off the market? 17:01 The summer market slowdown — is it seasonal or something more? 20:00 What Steven didn't predict: the Iran conflict as an exogenous shock 21:20 Geopolitical events and housing — Ukraine, tariffs, and what actually moves rates 23:11 Days on market vs. expected market time — why sellers are confused 24:54 34% of homes are reducing price — what that really means 26:07 H2 2026 forecast: rates, demand, inventory, and appreciation outlook 29:25 Outro — subscribe to Reports on Housing and contact Audra ---------------------------------------------------- Audra Lambert Home Tours on YouTube: / @audralamberthomes ---------------------------------------------------- 👋 Connect with me Check out my linktree: https://linktr.ee/audralambertgroup Like me on Facebook:   / audra.lambert1   Follow me on Instagram:   / lambertaudra   ---------------------------------------------------- This is not legal advice, nor can I give you legal advice, sorry! Everything here is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Nothing here should be construed to form an attorney-client relationship. Audra Lambert with the Lambert Group does not render or offer to render personalized investment advice, tax advice, or real estate investment advice. #HousingMarket2026, #AudraLambert, #RealEstatePodcast, #MortgageRates, #OrangeCountyRealEstate, #ReportsOnHousing