The Housing and Consumer Insights You Need for 2026
Every year, the Florida Real Estate Trends summit gives Realtors the insights they need to prepare for the coming year. On Friday, January 9, 2026, you can attend the event live at the Florida Realtors® Mid-Winter Business Meetings or virtually from the comfort of your office/home.
What: Florida Real Estate Trends 2026
When: 12:30-2:30 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2026
Where: Hyatt Regency Orlando, and livestream via Zoom Video Conferencing
Event preview
Now more than ever, buyers and sellers are looking to their real estate professionals to navigate a turbulent market. Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor will help you prepare for 2026 by sharing his insights into where Florida’s economy and real estate market are heading over the coming year.
Topics he will discuss include the latest trends in mortgage rates, home prices and affordability, home sales and inventory, migration and job growth throughout the state.
Florida Real Estate Trends is an annual economic summit and showcase for the products and services developed by the research department at Florida Realtors. This year will be the 15th iteration of this event, which has become a centerpiece of the association’s Mid-Winter Business Meetings.
Dr. Jessica Lautz from the National Association of Realtors will share the latest results of the 2025 Homebuyers and Sellers Survey that will provide insight into some of the demographic and economic drivers behind the current real estate trends observed nationally.
Following her remarks, Dr. Lautz will join a panel discussion with Dr. O'Connor and Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President at First America, moderated by Jennifer Warner, Economist and Director of Economic Development at Florida Realtors. The panel will expand on the national demographic trends, drill further into Florida's economic story and round out the conversation with an in-depth look from the perspective of lenders. The conversation will help Realtors think about their business plans and outreach strategy as they plan for the new year.
Speakers
Dr. Jessica Lautz
Dr. Lautz is the Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. She has been with NAR since 2007. The core of her research focuses on analyzing trends for both NAR members and housing consumers. She has testified before Congress on behalf of NAR and is a committee chair at the National Association of Business Economics. Dr. Lautz has been recognized by Housing Wire's Women of Influence and RISMedia's Newsmaker award.
Odeta Kushi
Kushi is a Vice President and deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, a premier provider of title, settlement, and risk solutions for real estate transactions and the leader in the digital transformation of its industry. In this role, Kushi leads the development of analysis, commentary, and forecasts on trends in the real estate and mortgage markets. Kushi’s research focuses on economic trends impacting real estate, including demographic shifts, affordability, and housing supply, as well as monitoring and analyzing quarterly surveys and economic data related to the housing industry.