Real Estate Appraisers NAICS 531320

Jan 17, 2026 - Existing Home Sales Rise

• Sales of existing US homes increased by 5.1% in December from November and were up 1.4% year-over-year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said, "2025 was another tough year for homebuyers, marked by record-high home prices and historically low home sales. However, in the fourth quarter, conditions began improving, with lower mortgage rates and slower home price growth. December home sales, after adjusting for seasonal factors, were the strongest in nearly three years. The gains were broad-based, with all four major regions improving from the prior month."
• An uptick in multifamily property sales in 2026 could signal stronger demand for appraisals. Multifamily sales are expected to accelerate in 2026 as buyers and sellers grow more aligned on pricing, interest rates stabilize, and transaction volume improves, according to Multifamily Dive. Executives say distress remains limited, although leverage issues and maturing loans could prompt more sales by mid-2026. Investors are increasingly drawn to coastal markets with steadier rent growth, while oversupply in the Sunbelt is expected to ease as new construction slows and rents stabilize. Ample debt and equity remain available, thanks to higher lending caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, although smaller sponsors face a tighter investor appetite. Private capital is driving most acquisitions as several smaller REITs pursue liquidation or strategic reviews, while larger REITs stay sidelined until pricing adjusts. Together, these forces indicate a more active, yet cautiously optimistic, multifamily market.

• Analysts expect a surge of mergers and acquisitions in 2026, a shift that could significantly reshape commercial real estate as newly combined companies consolidate offices, merge headquarters, and dispose of excess properties, according to Bisnow. Lighter regulation, abundant private equity capital, and tax driven liquidity are fueling megadeals across media, energy, finance, and healthcare, creating years of work for brokers who guide rightsizing, cultural integration, and portfolio restructuring. The rapid pace of leasing, sales, and repositioning that follows a merger also increases demand for real estate appraisers, who will be needed to value assets for due diligence, transition service agreements, and post merger disposition strategies. Rising occupancy costs, demographic modeling, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on workplace design add further complexity, pushing companies to optimize existing space rather than build new and intensifying the need for accurate, defensible valuations.
• The weakest condominium market in a decade could reduce demand for condo appraisals. Rising HOA fees, higher insurance costs, remote work trends, and weakened second home demand have reduced condo demand as buyers increasingly choose single family homes instead, according to The Wall Street Journal. US condominium prices fell 1.9 percent in September and October, the steepest annual drop since 2012, according to fintech and data firm Intercontinental Exchange. More than one in ten condos are now estimated to be worth less than their last sale price, according to Zillow. Oversupplied markets have seen even steeper price declines. Sellers face slow traffic and tougher mortgage requirements for aging buildings, which has prompted stricter scrutiny from lenders. Many owners are cutting prices, delisting units, or renting them out as properties sit on the market for months. Even so, most condo owners still hold significant equity, and many are choosing to wait out the weak market.