The 3 Worst Stocks You Can Buy Ahead of a Housing Market Crash Fortune released some data on Aug. 24 about the impending housing market crash. Over 183 housing markets in the U.S. could see home prices drop by 20% if a recession hits. If that happens, the worst stocks to hold at that point would be anything related to residential real estate, except for owners and builders of multi-family residential. So, which housing-related industries will suffer more than others? Real estate brokers would continue to be affected as higher mortgage rates reduce the number of sale transactions. If consumers shy away from buying newly constructed homes, home buyers could also feel the pinch, and of course, the businesses that supply home builders with the products necessary to build the homes could also be hurt. Some are probably already feeling the heat. With the Federal Reserve Chair saying on Aug. 26 that the Fed would have to raise interest rates higher for longer to dampen inflation, industries reliant on housing are all but certain to take a beating in the near term.