2017 will be all about being nimble, responding quickly to market changes and keeping your clients informed

Key Takeaways

• There is solid optimism about the housing market in 2017, with 27.43 percent of respondents saying they are extremely optimistic.
• More than half of this survey's respondents (52.21 percent) expect President-elect Donald Trump to have a positive effect on the U.S. housing market.
• A strong majority (71.24 percent) of respondents have plans to expand their businesses next year.
• Nearly 50 percent of respondents think unit sales will go up in 2017, and 75 percent of those surveyed think that prices will go up.

Special Report survey respondents and some of the industry’s top executives were nearly

What will happen to mortgage rates, affordability, inventory and more

Key Takeaways

• Mortgage rates are likely to continue to increase throughout 2017.

• There will not be any easing in inventory, and affordability will still be a challenge in big markets.

• The potential is there for a large number of first-time buyers to enter the buying market, but they will face new challenges.

It’s been one unprecedented 2016, between the Brexit vote, the continued persistence of low mortgage interest rates and an election that seemed to temporarily throw markets for a loop.

What will the 12 months encompassing 2017 hold in store for housing?

Inman asked eight different experts to give their take:

• Steve Cook, editor