For the first time since 2023, more consumers say it's better to buy a home than rent, as confidence in homeownership rose across every measured attitude—90% now call a home a valuable investment (up from 79% in 2025), and 32% feel more confident in their ability to buy this year (up from 27%), according to Bank of America’s 2026 Homebuyer Insights Report.
According to the report, the mortgage rate “lock-in” effect appears to be loosening: 52% of current homeowners expect to buy another home, and 22% of those plan to do so within the next year (up from 15% in 2025), with many willing to move even at a higher rate to reach a more affordable area (76%), their dream home (75%) or a better location (71%).
Expensive home prices (58%) and high interest rates (46%) still top the list of reasons buyers delay; however, rising intent to act points to more home sales, the report said.
Read the full report here.
