August marks the peak of “fair season” in West Virginia, giving Mountaineers plenty to look forward to as summer winds down. Carnival rides, livestock shows and deep-fried treats all make this time of year one of the most anticipated for locals. 

On the real estate front, things have leveled out. We like to think of it as more of a Ferris wheel than a roller coaster these days. Mortgage rates are holding steady in the mid-6% range, and inventory continues climbing. Meanwhile, regulators in Washington are inching closer to finalizing rules that could reshape how banks and servicers operate. Here's what you need to know to stay ahead as fall approaches. 

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Rachel Showalter, Agency Operations Manager

At October Research's National Settlement Services Summit (NS3), executives from First American Data and Analytics and MyHome discussed how title companies should think about AI investment. Their advice was to start with a clear business problem and prioritize the areas where AI's impact will show up fastest, such as document extraction and customer communication. Both speakers confirmed that human oversight remains essential to sound decision-making. AI can streamline processes, but accountability stays with people. 

Mortgage rates spent much of 2025 in the mid-to-upper 6% range, dipped to 6% in early 2026, then climbed back up amid market volatility this past spring. Major forecasters (including Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and Reuters housing analysts) now expect rates to hold in the mid-6% range for the rest of 2026, with only a modest dip possible by year-end. 

Community banks are largely optimistic heading into the second half of 2026, according to a new ABA survey of 362 top officers. Nearly three in four banks are exploring expansion within their current markets, and half plan to use AI to help reduce costs. Nearly 60% of the surveyed officers expect significant growth within their footprint, with new tech tools and products driving growth. That said, AI adoption is a double-edged sword and should be integrated with caution. When asked what keeps them up at night, officers ranked cybersecurity and data breaches as the top concern at 73%, narrowly ahead of core deposit growth at 72%. 

A new NAR survey finds walkability is playing a bigger role in homebuying decisions than many might assume. 89% of respondents said sidewalks and places to walk matter when choosing where to live, and nearly two-thirds (63%) said they'd pay more to live somewhere walkable. Buyer priorities are expanding beyond square footage and price to include community design.