10 challenges facing the real estate industry in 2026, according to young leaders

Detailed summary

10 of Business Insider's rising stars of real estate share what they believe are the biggest challenges facing the real estate industry in 2026.

The real estate market has felt anything but normal in 2026. High interest rates and home prices have turned off many would-be buyers, even in some of the country's previously hottest markets. New taxes affecting high-end properties, coupled with broader economic uncertainty, have also prompted wealthy buyers to question whether it still makes sense to buy or invest in real estate in their cities — or look elsewhere, even overseas. These challenges are likely to carry into next year. But Business Insider's 2026 Rising Stars of Real Estate say it's not all doom and gloom. Some rising stars see a bigger role for agents as buyers and sellers try to make sense of a complicated market.

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