MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — As 2025 comes to a close, affordability and the cost of homeownership remain significant challenges for buyers across the country. While overall housing prices continued to increase this year, the pace slowed compared to the rapid spikes seen in recent years, with notable differences from region to region.

Sasha Poparic, CEO and founder of Immobilium, says the past year reflected a market in transition rather than decline. Immobilium operates in more than 50 countries and focuses on expanding access to real estate investment through technology.

Poparic, author of Immobilium: The Global Real Estate Revolution, has more than 30 years of experience in technology and real estate. He says mortgage rates, inventory shortages, and affordability pressures defined much of the U.S. housing market in 2025.

Looking ahead to 2026, Poparic expects buyers and investors to closely watch mortgage rate trends, housing supply, and emerging digital tools that are changing how people buy and invest in property. He says technology will continue to play a growing role in real estate transactions, making markets more accessible to everyday investors.

Poparic also believes international real estate investments could become increasingly attractive as buyers look for diversification and new opportunities beyond traditional domestic markets.