Rick Sharga on Mortgage Rates, Inflation, and Home Prices: 2026 Housing Market Outlook

Mortgage rates, inflation, affordability, consumer debt, regional housing trends: there’s a lot to keep up with in this market. In this episode of The Digest by AD Mortgage, Rick Sharga breaks down what 2025 revealed, what brokers should watch in 2026, and why the road to recovery may be slower: but already taking shape. Topics covered: – mortgage rates and affordability – inflation and borrower sentiment – consumer debt and delinquency trends – regional market differences – national headlines vs market reality – non-QM, DSCR, and purchase market opportunities – what brokers should watch in 2026 Do you think 2026 will bring a soft landing or more turbulence? Let us know in the comments. #realestate #mortgage #economy #finance #mortgagerates #housingmarket #nonqmloans #mortgagecalculator #admortgage #realestate #realestateinvesting #tariffs _____________________________________________________________________ AD Mortgage (NMLS # 958660) is a top wholesale and correspondent lender, bringing first class service. We are a nationwide lender able to conduct business in 40+ states. Join the more than 9,100+ companies who’ve already chosen AD Mortgage as their long-term partner to expand their pipeline! Learn About Programs: https://admortgage.com/our-programs/?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=sm&utm_campaign=DigestRick26 Calculate Your Loan: https://pricer.admortgage.com/?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=sm&utm_campaign=DigestRick26 Submit Scenario: https://admortgage.com/scenario-request-form-2/?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=sm&utm_campaign=DigestRick26 Become a Partner: https://admortgage.com/become-a-partner/?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=sm&utm_campaign=DigestRick26 Follow us where you wish: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/admortgage/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/admortgagecompany/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/admortgagellc/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ad_mortgage Threads: https://www.threads.net/@admortgagellc Telegram: https://t.me/admortgage_bot 00:00 Why 2026 may set the stage for recovery 01:08 Looking back: what stood out in 2025 02:09 Inflation, rates, and the Fed’s impact on housing 03:42 Government shutdown: any real effect on the market? 05:13 The gap between economic data and borrower sentiment 07:58 Consumer debt: how serious is it in 2026? 10:30 Regional markets: key differences across the country 12:11 Reading past the headlines 14:23 Lender positioning and non-QM growth 16:53 Signals and indicators worth watching 18:55 Final advice for 2026