Clark Howard's 2026 Housing Market Predictions & Listener Q&A

Clark Stinks: Listener Feedback and Advice

• 💡 Bonnie from Missouri highlights IRS Free Fillable Forms as a free, non-income-based alternative to Free File guided software.
• ✈️ Alex from Florida and Mark from Florida discuss travel insurance, emphasizing the need for independent insurance companies that cover supplier default and medical emergencies, rather than relying on cruise lines or tour operators.
• 🩺 Dave from Indiana shares a personal success story, crediting Clark's prostate cancer awareness for his early diagnosis and successful treatment.
• 📈 Seth from Indiana points out the complexity of Fidelity's target date funds, suggesting simpler, lower-cost index fund options are preferable.
• 💰 Tim from Ohio advises using HSA funds for current medical expenses, noting that while HSAs are tax-advantaged, they are less ideal as an inheritance account due to beneficiary taxes.
• 🚗 Eric from South Carolina warns that car insurance tracking devices may penalize drivers for defensive braking, which insurers label as "hard braking."
• 🏦 Pete from Massachusetts cautions that bank CDs can auto-renew at unfavorable rates, unlike brokerage CDs which typically renew competitively.
• 👴 Doug from Minnesota stresses the importance of delaying Social Security to maximize survivor benefits for a spouse, especially if one partner is likely to outlive the other.

Clark's 2026 Housing Market Predictions

• 🏠 The housing market in 2026 is described as a transition year with a clear shift favoring buyers.
• 📉 For the first time in years, there are more sellers than buyers, leading to price cuts and increased buyer incentives.
• 🚶 Buyers who previously gave up hope now have improving conditions, with prices stalled and potential for continued improvement over the next 3-4 years.
• 🧊 The market is thawing due to factors like people selling who historically would have stayed put, increased inventory favoring buyers, and potential administration efforts to lower mortgage rates.
• 🏗️ Builders are offering significant incentives on new homes, but buyers should be aware of potential overpaying for the purchase price and the need to stay in the home for 7-8 years to offset subsidized mortgage costs.

Consumer Questions and Advice

• ❓ Shannon from Montana inquires about the necessity of multiple umbrella insurance policies, as her agent suggested separate policies for auto and home.
• 📱 Joe from New York asks about Mint Mobile's international travel pass for Europe, while Scott from Pennsylvania inquires about carrying a spare emergency phone while traveling.
• ✈️ Clark recommends using an older phone as a backup and suggests purchasing a local SIM card for extended international travel as the cheapest option.
• 💸 Bonnie from Ohio asks about prepaying international hotels to hedge against currency fluctuations, and Clark advises booking refundable prepaid rooms and re-shopping closer to the travel date.