The age-old dilemma now depends heavily on your local market's "heat".
: With "days on market" rising, sellers can no longer rely on 2021-style bidding wars. Those whose homes sit for over 30 days are increasingly finding they must offer price cuts—often around 7% to 10% —to attract cautious buyers.
For those looking to enter the market, 2026 feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the "overheated" years of 2020–2022. buy or sell home
: 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.
: To clear inventory, many homebuilders are now offering mortgage rate buydowns , effectively lowering a buyer's interest rate by 1% to 2% below the market average. Buy or Sell First? The age-old dilemma now depends heavily on your
: 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.
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. For those looking to enter the market, 2026
: 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