Experts weigh in with predictions on what to expect in a shifting urban market After some collective year-end reminiscing about a tumultuous and unpredictable 2016, it almost seems quaint making prognostications about 2017, a year expected to be just a volatile and surprising. But with so many potential changes in the economy and policy in play, the urban real estate market could be in for some noteworthy shifts. Curbed asked industry experts to consult their Magic 8-Balls and garner a few predictions for what urban renters and buyers in the US will contend with over the following year.

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Boon for first-time buyers
First-time homebuyers?burdened by debt, rising home prices, and difficulty getting mortgages?have struggled recently to buy homes in recent years. According to Colby Sambrotto, President and CEO of USRealty.com, banks will be loosening their lending terms in 2017, which means mortgages will be easier to come by, helping to propel young buyers. This is one of the reasons many experts, including the National Association of Realtors and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, predicts an increase in home sales this year (an uptick predicted at 3 to 11 percent, respectively).
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Better prices for upscale rentals
In dense urban markets, a recent glut of new projects means that 2017 may be the year of relative deals for high-end apartments, according to a Wall Street Journal article. Many buildings in expensive ...