Real Estate Market Trends and Financing Updates: March 2026 (Kiavi Investor Pulse)
Mortgage rates edged back toward the mid-6% range in March after briefly touching three-year lows, according to Freddie Mac, while the Federal Reserve held rates steady for a second consecutive meeting. Fix-and-flip margins marginally tightened nationally, though some Southeast and Midwest markets continued to outperform, according to ATTOM. Kiavi refreshed its bridge loan pricing, joined the BiggerPockets Pro Perks program, and earned coverage across national real estate, finance, and technology outlets.
Key Takeaways
- Kiavi launched refreshed fix-and-flip/bridge loan pricing: rates as low as 7.75%*, increase loans up to $5M*, and total exposure now up to $8M*
- The 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 6.22% as of March 19th, still nearly half a point below the same week last year, according to Freddie Mac
- The Fed held rates steady at 3.5-3.75% for a second consecutive meeting
- National fix-and-flip gross return on investment (ROI) came in at 23.6% in Q4 2025, with top states like Tennessee (57.1% ROI) and Alabama (45.3% ROI), according to ATTOM
- 71% of flippers surveyed plan to increase acquisitions in 2026, a record high, according to the JBREC + Kiavi Fix-and-Flip Survey
Real Estate Market Trends: What Investors Need to Know in March 2026
A lot happened in March—and not all of it made the front page. We pulled together the stories, data, and resources we think could be the most beneficial to you this month.
Overall Market and Rates
After briefly dipping to 6.00% in early March, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed back to 6.22% as of March 19th (up from 6.11% the prior week), according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 15-year fixed averaged 5.54%. Despite the uptick, rates remained nearly 0.45 percentage points below the same period in 2025, and Freddie Mac noted that buyers appeared to be responding—existing-home sales rose 1.7% in February and purchase applications climbed heading into spring.
Charles Goodwin, Head of Bridge and DSCR Lending at Kiavi, told The Mortgage Reports:
"Mortgage rates have already reacted to macro volatility, rising as bond markets priced in new inflation risks and geopolitical uncertainty. While the Fed held rates steady at this March’s meeting, mortgage rates in April will have less to do with the Fed’s decisions and more to do with broader economic data and circumstances."
According to Fox Business, rising energy prices and renewed trade uncertainty lifted inflation expectations, putting upward pressure on longer-term rates, even as inflation and softer February job growth would typically support lower borrowing costs.
The Federal Reserve voted to hold the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.5-3.75% at its March meeting, the second consecutive hold following three rate cuts at the end of 2025. The path to further cuts remains unclear in the near term.
Kiavi Tip: For a broader look at where the market may be heading this year, check out Kiavi's 2026 Real Estate Market Outlook: What Real Estate Investors Should Know. If you want to make sure you're measuring the right metrics as market conditions potentially shift, 10 Key Real Estate Investor Metrics to Track for Success may be worth a read.
Fix-and-Flip Market Trends From March 2026
According to ATTOM's recently published Q4 2025 Home Flipping Trends by State report, the national fix-and-flip picture got a little tighter—but investors paying attention to geography may still find strong returns. The ATTOM report shows margins slightly compressing at the national level, though certain markets continue to outperform.
National Q4 2025 snapshot (Source: ATTOM):
- Total flips: 68,999 single-family homes and condos (7.2% of all sales)
- Gross ROI: 23.6%, down from 24.0% in Q3 2025 and the lowest since Q3 2007
- Median gross profit: $62k
- Median hold time: 160 days from purchase to resale
- Median year built of flipped properties: 1977, the oldest on record as investors increasingly take on more distressed stock
Top states by flipping rate, Q4 2025 (Source: ATTOM):
- Georgia: 10.4% flip rate, 21.3% gross ROI
- Ohio: 9.7% flip rate, 31.2% gross ROI
- Texas: 9.6% flip rate, 4.5% gross ROI
- South Carolina: 8.8% flip rate, 34.9% gross ROI
- Alabama: 8.8% flip rate, 45.3% gross ROI
- Tennessee: 8.6% flip rate, 57.1% gross ROI
- Nevada: 8.3% flip rate, 17.1% gross ROI
Texas led in volume but trailed significantly in ROI, according to ATTOM's data. Tennessee and Alabama posted the strongest gross returns among surveyed states. Ohio continued to show a combination of high flip rate and solid ROI, which may make it worth watching heading into Q2.
The affordability conversation appears to be getting louder too. Forbes published a deep dive on what it may take to deliver the starter homes America needs, drawing on data from the latest JBREC + Kiavi Fix-and-Flip Survey. The article could make a compelling case that rehab-to-retail flipping isn't just a business strategy—it may be one of the more practical responses to entry-level inventory shortages. According to the survey, entry-level buyers now account for 50% of all flipped home sales, making the sub-$500k price point one of the most active segments of the market.
That same JBREC + Kiavi survey data also appeared in the Chrisman Commentary's March 7 edition, where economic trends impacting mortgage rates were the focus.
Going deeper on fix-and-flip this month: Kiavi's 7 Best Fix-and-Flip Markets for 2026 pairs the latest JBREC + Kiavi survey data with an on-the-ground market analysis worth bookmarking.
Rental Market Trends From March 2026
According to Apartment List's March 2026 national rent report, single-family rents rose year-over-year in 49 of the 50 largest metro areas, with affordability barriers continuing to keep demand for rental housing strong. If you're looking to build or grow a rental business in 2026, DSCR financing strategy could be one of the most important levers you pull this year.
Kiavi Tip: The DSCR Loan Guide: How to Finance Your First Rental Property is a practical primer on how debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loans work and when they may make sense for your strategy.
Ground-Up Construction Market Trends From March 2026
JBREC's Strategic Markets for Residential Homebuilding 2026 breaks down which metros may have the supply-demand dynamics to support new builds in the current environment. According to the NAHB's March 2026 report, single-family starts slipped 2.8% in January and the number of single-family homes under construction fell 8.8% year-over-year, potentially driven by elevated construction costs and affordability constraints.
According to JBREC, understanding where to build, or where to flip into an undersupplied buyer pool, could be one of the more important decisions you make this year. Sunbelt metros have generally continued to offer volume, while high-cost coastal markets tend to require a sharper buyer profile and more precise renovation spec.
For investors interested in the build-to-rent (BTR) space specifically, Kiavi's Build-to-Rent Financing: Key Insights from the IMN BTR Conference rounds up the most important financing conversations coming out of the sector's flagship event.
Kiavi News and Updates
March was an active month for Kiavi across the board. From refreshed loan pricing to a new lending partnership and continued recognition in national media, we've been focused on expanding access and delivering more for real estate investors heading into the spring buying season. Here's a look at what's new with Kiavi this month.
Kiavi Bridge Loan Policy Changes for Spring 2026
Kiavi updated its bridge and fix-and-flip loan program for spring 2026, with changes that may expand access for more real estate investors and offer additional flexibility.
What's new:
- (NEW) Rates as low as 7.75%*, available to more investors
- (NEW) Total borrower exposure up to $8M*
Additional Kiavi bridge program terms:
- Up to 100%* loan-to-cost (LTC) and 80%* after-repair value (ARV)
- Up to 100%* of rehab costs covered
- 12, 18, and 24-month terms available; interest as drawn on all* loans
- Closings as fast as 10 business days, intended to be competitive with cash buyers
- No W2s, bank statements, hard credit pulls, or application fees
**Loan terms reflect Kiavi's bridge loan program as of March 24, 2026 and are subject to change at any time. Visit Kiavi.com/loans/bridge-loans for the most current program details and eligibility requirements.
Kiavi + BiggerPockets: A New Partnership Built For Real Estate Investors
On March 3rd, Kiavi announced a strategic partnership with BiggerPockets as the featured fix-and-flip and bridge loan lender within the BiggerPockets Pro Perks program. BiggerPockets Pro members may be eligible for discounted upfront fees on Kiavi loans. This provides the kind of cost efficiency that's typically been reserved for larger institutional players.
Learn more about the Kiavi + BiggerPockets partnership →
How Kiavi Is Using AI to Close Real Estate Deals Faster
Allwork.Space's March feature on AI proptech examined which companies are putting AI investment to work in practical ways for real estate investors—and mentioned Kiavi specifically. With significant capital flowing into the AI proptech space, the piece highlighted Kiavi's AI-powered underwriting and deal analysis tools as examples of technology delivering measurable outcomes for investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are mortgage rates in March 2026?
According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.22% as of March 19, 2026, up from 6.11% the prior week. Despite the uptick, rates remained nearly half a percentage point below the same period in 2025, which may represent a more favorable environment for buyers and investors compared to last year.
Did the Federal Reserve change interest rates in March 2026?
No. The Federal Reserve voted to hold the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.5-3.75% at its March 2026 meeting, marking the second consecutive hold following three rate cuts at the end of 2025. Elevated oil prices and ongoing trade policy uncertainty may continue to limit the case for near-term cuts.
Is house flipping still profitable in 2026?
According to ATTOM's Q4 2025 Home Flipping Trends report, the national gross ROI for flipped homes came in at 23.6%. While margins have slightly compressed at the national level, certain states—including Tennessee (57.1% gross ROI) and Alabama (45.3% gross ROI)—continued to show considerably stronger returns, suggesting that market selection may play a significant role in profitability. These figures represent gross returns and may not reflect net profitability after renovation costs, financing, and carrying costs.
Which states have the highest fix-and-flip ROI in 2026?
Based on ATTOM's Q4 2025 data, Tennessee and Alabama posted the highest gross ROI among tracked states at 57.1% and 45.3% respectively. South Carolina (34.9%) and Ohio (31.2%) also ranked among the stronger performers. These figures represent gross returns and may not reflect net profitability after renovation costs, financing, and carrying costs.
What is the Kiavi and BiggerPockets partnership?
In March 2026, Kiavi announced a partnership with BiggerPockets as the featured fix-and-flip and bridge loan lender within the BiggerPockets Pro Perks program. BiggerPockets Pro members may be eligible for discounted upfront fees on Kiavi fix-and-flip and bridge loans, up to $1,250 in loan value. Restrictions may apply.
What should real estate investors watch in Q2 2026?
Based on current market data, a few trends may be worth monitoring heading into Q2. Mortgage rate direction remains uncertain given elevated oil prices and trade policy in flux, according to Freddie Mac and Realtor.com. ATTOM's Q4 2025 data suggests that deal selectivity may matter more than volume in a compressed margin environment. And according to the JBREC + Kiavi Fix-and-Flip Survey, entry-level buyers accounted for 50% of all flipped home sales, which may point to continued demand at the sub-$500k price point.
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