First American Data & Analytics reported that U.S. home prices started 2026 with subdued growth, with its national non-seasonally adjusted Home Price Index down 0.2% month over month in January and up 0.4% year over year. Chief Economist Mark Fleming said annual appreciation has stayed below 1% for six straight months, pointing to a broadly stable market where affordability is gradually improving as incomes rise faster than prices. The report also found widening regional divergence, with 23 of the top 30 metros posting annual declines, while Midwestern and Northeastern markets led gains and several Western metros—including Oakland, Denver and Seattle—saw the steepest drops.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. First American Financial Corporation published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 202602190900BIZWIRE_USPR_____20260219_BW452606) on February 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.