2026 is not shaping up to be a “crash year.” It’s shaping up to be a clarity year.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty shares her annual predictions for what buyers and sellers should really expect in the year ahead—joined by local mortgage lender Christy White to bring the lending perspective into the conversation.

Before the forecasts, Laurie also breaks down a headline that sounds almost too good to be true: Martha Stewart launching prefab home designs with price tags starting around $150,000—and what that number doesn’t include.

In this episode, we break down:• Why more people may finally stop waiting for the “perfect time”• What will separate the homes that sell smoothly from the ones that sit• The pricing and presentation mistakes that matter more in a selective market• What affordability could look like in 2026—and what might actually move the needle• The key lending factors that buyers will feel most this year

If you’re planning a move in 2026 (or trying to understand what the next year may really look like in Kern County), this episode brings the kind of practical clarity you won’t get from national headlines.