Danielle Hale

The traditional spring homebuying season has officially arrived, injecting seasonal optimism into a market that has struggled in the face of economic uncertainty.

The traditional spring homebuying season has officially arrived, injecting seasonal optimism into a market beset by uncertainty.

I see this convergence of lower rates and rising inventory as a potential catalyst for a market that has been searching for its footing.

Explore 2026 Q1 Los Angeles rental trends: In the first quarter of 2026, the median asking rent for all rental properties listed on Realtor in Los Angeles County was $2,520, a decline of $97, or 3.7%, compared with a year ago. While the county experienced a temporary dip in rents during the COVID-19 pandemic, asking rents quickly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels and peaked in summer 2022.

As we navigate the peak spring homebuying season, the economic backdrop remains characterized by a persistent "cloudy" outlook.

As we move deeper into the spring homebuying season, the U.S. housing market finds itself at a critical crossroads.

Mortgage rates hold steady amid "inflation contagion," while new construction offers $25,000 in savings and national rents continue to drop.

Your paycheck may be growing, but " inflation contagion " is eating up those gains—and then some.

It has been a turbulent week for the broader economy—inflation reached a three-year high, tensions in the Middle East continued to fluctuate, and mortgage rates ticked up to 6.52%.

May 2026 marks the 34th consecutive month of year-over-year decline for 0-2 bedroom properties across the 50 largest metros. The national median asking rent fell $26, or 1.5%, compared to a year ago.