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Will the housing market crash in 2026? It’s a good question, but the answer isn’t as easy as a simple “yes” or “no.”

The 2025 housing market has been plagued by numerous challenges, causing buyers and sellers alike to struggle to make headway. These included stubborn mortgage rates, affordability concerns, and general economic uncertainty. However, experts remain optimistic that 2026 will bring about some positive changes for the real estate industry, as well as consumers.

That said, next year won’t be without its share of hurdles.

HomeLight examines the state of the market heading into next year, drawing on expert insights and market data to provide an idea of what to expect, and attempting to answer the question of whether the housing market will crash in 2026.

Home prices are expected to soften … in some markets

Stubborn home prices have been a persistent pain point for would-be buyers in 2025. But experts predict that some relief is on the way next year, at least in some markets, which could create a path onto the field of play for those who have been sitting on the sidelines due to prohibitive pricing. However, nationwide, prices might still be a major blocker.

A recent report from Realtor.com on the state of the housing market predicts price drops in 22 major cities across the United States, primarily located in the West or Southeast. Florida markets, such as Tampa and the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area, are expected to experience healthy pricing dips of 3.6% and 8.9%, respectively. Real estate market darlings like Miami will likely remain unreasonably priced for most Americans.

Indeed, nationwide, Realtor.com also reports that overall, home sales might slow, as prices are expected to rise by 2.2%.

“We are already seeing some price corrections, especially here in condos in South Florida. So, I believe buyers should actually take advantage of that now if they can,” says Joel Freis, a South Florida real estate agent.

“But at the very least, come the first part of next year, I think you’ll see prices drop or hold steady from where they’ve already come down or maybe come down a little bit more, and a low range of trade buyers will be able to capture good deals,” Freis adds.

Both Freis and his real estate team partner, Denise Madan, are confident that the market will be resilient next year, rejecting the term “c

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When the benefits of AI feel locked behind technical expertise or expensive resources, only a small fraction of people — those with access to data science teams, custom-built tools, or significant budgets — get to fully leverage its potential.

That’s not how it should be. AI should be accessible, practical, and impactful for anyone, no matter their role or technical background. That’s what it means when people talk about democratizing AI: making sure that every team member gets to fully leverage its potential. Because AI is far more powerful when it’s put directly into the hands of the people actually doing the work.

Zapier shares what it looks like to democratize AI across your organization — and five reasons why you should.

What does it mean to democratize AI?

Democratizing AI means making AI tools accessible to everyone. It empowers anyone, regardless of technical background, to leverage powerful tools that save time and amplify impact.

In practice, here’s what AI democratization can look like across your organization.

• Customer support: Equipping agents with AI chatbots that deliver accurate, context-aware answers to customer questions, and intelligently prioritize and route tickets based on preset criteria.
• eCommerce: Orchestrating AI workflows that automatically parse marketing-friendly product copy into structured data — like size, material, and SKU — so fulfillment teams have the information they need to pack and ship orders.
• Sales: Building AI-driven workflows that read incoming SMS replies, extract intent and scheduling info, and automatically book appointments with prospects.
• Revenue operations: Using AI-powered automations to enrich lead data, summarize sales conversations, and instantly update CRM records — freeing reps to focus on closing deals instead of admin tasks.

The benefits of democratizing AI across your organization

Letting everyone use AI isn’t just about handing out access cards to shiny new tools. It’s about changing how your whole company operates. When AI becomes something everyone can tap into (not just the folks with “engineer” in their title), you start to see ripple effects across productivity, creativity, and even culture.

Here are some of the biggest benefits of making AI a company-wide capability.

1. Faster time-to-value

One of the biggest advantages of democratizing AI is how quickly ideas can turn into impact. When the people who know the workflow best are also the ones empowered to build it, there’s no delay. They can spot an issue, design a solution, and adjust it as soon as the process changes.

As Jenica Blechschmidt, director of product management at Zapier, puts it: “When process owners build and maintain their own automations, they can adapt instantly — closing the loop and maximizing ROI.”

That ability to iterate in real time means teams move at the speed of the business. Workflows stay aligned with shifting priorities, ROI shows up faster, and IT can focus on guiding st

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The 2025 holiday shopping season has marked a pivotal shift in how consumers are experiencing customer service. Artificial intelligence is threaded through nearly every part of the journey, shaping interactions for a record number of shoppers and redefining expectations in the process. According to new survey data from Liveops, which provides scalable customer service through a nationwide network of agents, 78% of respondents encountered AI at some point during the season. This represented a significant increase from last year, with nearly three-quarters reporting more automation than they remembered seeing in 2024.

The 2025 Holiday AI & Customer Service Report captured insights from 1,000 U.S. adults who had completed all or most of their holiday shopping. Their responses painted a complex picture. Automation has brought speed and convenience to millions of shoppers, yet it has also created moments of friction. Consumers value fast responses, easy access to information, and 24/7 availability, although they still need clarity, empathy, and reliable support when complications arise. The holiday season has revealed an audience that understands the value of technology while still believing human connection defines great service.

AI Has Become an Everyday Companion

For many shoppers, this is the first year AI has stepped into a central role during the holiday rush. Automation has guided package tracking, returns, delivery notifications, and customer support queries. Chatbots, automated texts, and voice assistants have supported customers in ways that once required human involvement. Nearly 1 in 3 described the jump in AI interactions as “much more” frequent than in previous years.

AI’s rise is most visible in online chat and website support, which 61% of respondents said felt more automated than before. Customer service phone lines followed closely at 39%, signaling a broader shift across channels. Everyday tasks such as checking order status or gathering product information no longer require a person on the other end of the interaction. Companies rely on automation to handle spikes in volume and streamline repetitive requests, and customers have adjusted quickly to new tools that make certain tasks easier.

Liveops

Speed Has Improved the Journey for Many Shoppers

The season has affirmed that AI can shorten wait times and create a sense of consistent availability. A large majority of shoppers—85%—said AI made service faster or more accessible. This matters during a period defined by high expe