BOULDER — The real estate industry can expect 2025 to end as a “bummer” year, the third in a row. But recovery will come in 2026, said Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, based in Washington, D.C.

Yun was the keynote speaker at the Boulder Valley Real Estate Conference Thursday held at the newly opened Limelight Boulder Hotel. His appearance was his fifth during the 18-year run of the conference, a BizWest event.

Yun, who provided a national real estate forecast, said he expects the industry to see a 14% gain in existing home sales, “assuming mortgage rates go to 6% in the coming year.” Rates declining from 7% to 6% will enable a larger cohort of people to qualify for mortgages, thus expanding the market.

Yun also expects new home sales to increas

See Full Page