Is the “Housing Market Crash” Headline Real? Experts Say Otherwise.

Lately, news headlines have been painting a dramatic picture of an impending housing market collapse.

But these alarmist headlines often fail to capture the full story. In fact, if you take a look at the actual data, the outlook is far more stable than the headlines suggest.

Take, for example, the 2024 Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES) released by Fannie Mae.

As the chart below shows, home prices are expected to rise steadily over the next five years.

Contrary to headlines, home prices are projected to rise gradually and remain stable.

The HPES surveyed over 100 housing market experts across the U.S., and their forecasts were consistent:

• Average annual increase: ~3.3%

• Optimistic group: ~5.0% annually

• More conservative group: ~1.3% annually

So while there are differences in how fast prices might grow, no expert predicted a crash.

If anything, the data reflects a shift from the rapid price surges of recent years to more sustainable, healthy growth.

💡 Why Experts Expect Home Prices to Keep Rising

Experts cite several key factors supporting continued price growth:

1. Low foreclosure rates – With fewer distressed sales, there’s less downward pressure on prices.

2. Strict lending standards – Unlike 2008, today’s loans are much more stable and less risky.

3. Record-high home equity – Many homeowners have strong equity, reducing the likelihood of panic-selling or inventory surges.

These factors are helping stabilize the market. Even if some local corrections happen, nationally, the trend remains steady and strong.

📍 Chicago Suburbs Still Favor Sellers

In areas where I work—Chicago and the surrounding suburbs—particularly those with top-rated schools, inventory remains low.

As a result, many neighborhoods are still seeing stable or even rising home prices.

So while national trends offer insight, real decisions should always be based on local market data.

✅ Bottom Line: Don’t Just Wait for a Crash — Build a Smart Strategy

Many buyers are waiting on the sidelines, hoping for prices to fall further.

But the reality is: prices are more likely to keep climbing modestly over the next few years.

Waiting too long might only reduce your buying power.

Want to understand what’s happening in your neighborhood?

Talk to a local expert and find out how national trends connect with your local market today.