Business Wire·Oct 30, 2026, 8:00 AM ET

Real REMAX Group’s Monthly Agent Survey: Higher Mortgage Rates Weigh on Housing Demand and 2027 Outlook

Real REMAX Group released September 2026 Agent Survey results showing two-thirds of agents report buyers delaying home searches due to high borrowing costs.
65% of agents state mortgage rates must fall below 6% to meaningfully stimulate demand, with 37% specifying rates below 5.5% are needed.
The Agent Optimism Index dropped to 45.8 in September from 54.3 in August, falling below the 50 threshold for a positive outlook.
Transaction Growth Index decreased to 40.3 in September from 44.6 in August, indicating that 52% of agents reported fewer transactions year-over-year.
55% of agents characterized local markets as favoring buyers, the highest level since the survey began in January 2024, while only 11% reported seller-favorable conditions.
Affordability concerns reached a survey high of 67%, with mortgage rates & affordability cited as the biggest challenge for buyers.
Agents expect home sales to decline in 2027 if rates stay above 7%, with nearly 60% anticipating lower home prices under that scenario.
Higher rates prompted 39% of agents to report sellers delaying listing plans, while 35% noted sellers showed greater willingness to reduce asking prices.
The survey included 177 real estate agents from the United States & Canada, conducted between October 1, 2026, & October 9, 2026.