: Selling first provides a definitive budget for a next home and puts the seller in a "strong buying position" for their subsequent purchase. The Story for Buyers: A Return to Rationality
: Inventory levels have improved, rising roughly 20% over the last year. This allows buyers more time for due diligence and inspections, rather than making "sight-unseen" offers. buy or sell home
The age-old dilemma now depends heavily on your local market's "heat". : Selling first provides a definitive budget for
For homeowners who bought several years ago, the narrative remains one of significant gain. Despite a cooling market, home prices are generally not in danger of a major decline; instead, they are expected to grow modestly by nationally in 2026. The age-old dilemma now depends heavily on your
The decision to buy or sell a home in 2026 is less about timing a "perfect" market and more about navigating a period of . After years of extreme seller leverage, the current landscape has shifted into the most balanced market in nearly a decade, offering a "new era" of leverage for buyers while maintaining high equity for sellers. The Story for Sellers: Cashing in on Equity
: Many potential sellers are hesitant to trade their pandemic-era 3% mortgage rates for current rates hovering around 6% . However, those moving to be closer to family or for job changes are finding that their high existing equity makes these trades feasible.
For those looking to enter the market, 2026 feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the "overheated" years of 2020–2022.