Data continues to be a clear differentiator in real estate, especially for those who want to grow in 2026. As Dan Duffy, founder and CEO of United Real Estate Group, explains, leaders who have doubled down on the importance of data hold a significant advantage.
Duffy will kick off the Housing Economic Summit on Feb. 10, offering a roadmap for how leaders should interpret and use the data presented throughout the day.
We’ve been publishing the forecasts of our speakers ahead of the event and reading those forecasts is only one part of the equation; the real strategy is how you apply them to stay nimble. Below, Duffy explains how he is approaching the new year and the key ways data can take leaders to the next level.
HousingWire: What do you think will define the 2026 housing market for real estate leaders?
Dan Duffy: There will be a segmentation…
Group one: Those leaders that doubled down during the downturn, managed capital proficiently, invested in data hygiene and moved their companies forward re: AI enablement across the enterprise and built “past” the transitory downturn, will catch the first waves of an improved market and capture significant market share.
Turn data into decisions at the Housing Economic Summit
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Group two: Leaders that were focused on survival and maintaining short-range profitability by cutting costs will be focused on restoring and reinforcing their foundation and will miss the first waves of an improving market.
HW: Why should more leaders look at data to fuel business decisions and how can it make an impact?
DD: A data-first posture and investing in third-party provided data, proprietary data and data management capabilities are essential to leverage AI and other data-driven strategies to drive growth and improved unit economics. The point of competition has already shifted. Those companies that have leaders that think “data first” have a significant advantage.
HW: What has you excited about next year’s housing market?
DD: There will be another 4 million+ existing homes sold in 2026. With a market share just over 1%, we are in total control of our growth and have positioned United to grow despite the market conditions. Having said that, with 3+ years below the natural demand curve in transaction volume, macro winds changing favorably, seller price acquiescence, interest rates trends, etc. — 2026 should see a modest-to-marked improvement over the last three years. Wind in sails!
Don’t settle for only the data. Learn how to harness it to make better and faster decisions. Find the signal at the Housing Economic Summit. Join us in Dallas on Feb. 10.