This week on Simply Authentic, we're joined by Dr. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research for the National Association of REALTORS®, for a fascinating conversation about today's housing market and what may lie ahead for the remainder of 2026.

Drawing from NAR's recently released Generational Trends Report, Dr. Lautz shares surprising insights into who is buying homes, where they're choosing to live, and the factors driving those decisions. We explore the growing influence of single female homebuyers, migration trends across the country, and what these national statistics can teach us about our own local market.

We also discuss one of the industry's biggest challenges: affordability for first-time homebuyers. While Southwest Missouri remains more affordable than many parts of the country, buyers a ...