Agents hoping to meet 2026 prepared and with clear eyes should ready themselves for a market realignment poised to provide added opportunity as the year plays out. That’s according to an internal survey among Corcoran Group affiliate owners in major metro areas that was shared exclusively with Inman.
Affiliate owners currently see three major themes emerging across large metro areas in the next year: an alignment between buyers and sellers, a drive toward lifestyle and turnkey properties, and buyer confidence being dictated by the economy.
Pam Liebman | Corcoran Group
“Sellers are becoming increasingly realistic about pricing, and buyers are coming back into the market with a clearer understanding of value,” Pam Liebman, Corcoran Group President and CEO, said of the firm’s New York City home base market.
“The gap between expectation and reality is narrowing. We see the greatest movement in two areas: well-priced resale product and the premium and luxury segments. Move-in-ready homes with strong amenities continue to outperform, and properly positioned listings are attracting serious interest. The days of aspirational pricing are behind us; 2026 is about realistic pricing, educated buyers and deals getting done.”
Corcoran affiliate owners identified areas of opportunity for agents tied to expected market movements in 2026. Take a look at what they advise below.
The realignment of buyers and sellers
Coming off of pandemic-high expectations, buyers and sellers are now coming closer together, Corcoran’s survey found. Emotional decision-making is making way for rational decision-making, where sellers are moving away from aspirational pricing and buyers are taking their time pulling the trigger because they know they have options.
Chelsea Engel | Corcoran Prestige Realty
Agent opportunity: Agents who position themselves as trusted advisors instead of simply facilitators of a transaction are more likely to help their clients close more deals, Corcoran affiliate owners said, and will help clients gain a competitive advantage.
“Having the right agent who gives you actual comps and helps you price strategically is essential right now,” Houston-based Corcoran Prestige Realty leader Chelsea Engel said in the firm’s survey. “The agents who tell sellers what they want to hear — and the sellers who refuse to budge — are the ones with stale listings.
“On the buyer side, people are taking their time … Buyers today are looking for agents who can cut through the noise and guide them: the right lender, the right program, the right property, the right strategy.”
A drive toward turnkey, lifestyle and quality inventory
Across Corcoran’s major markets, particularly Manhattan, Miami, Charlotte, Boston and San Francisco, properties that see the most positive attention are move-in ready and prioritize lifestyle and amenities. Properties that have the opposite qualities — are dated, require a lot of work or are overpriced — are mostly sitting and adding up days on market.
Steve Belluomini | Corcoran Icon Properties
Agent opportunity: Those agents who guide clients to make wise decisions before listing a property on the market will help bring real value to the transaction. As 2026 continues, agents will gain a leg up by creating inventory “in its best, most compelling and most livable form,” Corcoran’s report said.
“Confidence is strongest in walkable, amenity-rich areas with great schools — and in core markets we’re preparing for multiple offers again,” Steve Belluomini, president of Corcoran Icon Properties in Northern California, said in the survey.
“Sellers are recalibrating, too: sharper pricing is needed in the outer East and North Bay, while momentum is returning in San Francisco and the Peninsula, where well-prepared, well-priced homes are drawing strong attention. The strongest movement is in SF single-family and luxury/view homes, turnkey product on the Peninsula and Silicon Valley, and quality condos in desirable locations.”
Buyer confidence based on economic stability — not rates
Buyers have largely become accustomed to the new rate landscape, Corcoran affiliate owners argued, but are still somewhat cautious because of the economy. Factors like job or income confidence and financial market performance are impacting decision-making, causing luxury buyers, in particular, to make more selective decisions.
Agent opportunity: Top agents who focus on data-based decisions and avoid speculation will provide the most value to their clients this year. And those agents who can help provide a clear narrative about where a property fits into broader economic trends will set themselves apart from the rest.
Valerie Mitchener | Corcoran HM Properties
“On the macro side, interest-rate stability will be key [in 2026],” Val Mitchener, broker-owner of Corcoran HM Properties in Charlotte, said in the firm’s survey.
“Even modest rate cuts — or simply a steady rate environment — will lift confidence in the $1-$3 million segment where financing still matters, while the ultra-luxury tier, although largely cash-driven, remains highly attuned to broader economic sentiment.
“Affordability and wealth effects will also play a major role; high-end buyers respond closely to equities, IPO cycles and overall portfolio performance, and when portfolios are strengthening, we see transaction velocity increase. If construction and labor costs stabilize, that may further improve confidence among buyers considering renovation or new-build opportunities.”
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Email Lillian Dickerson