For 2026, home buyers should focus on financial prep (pre-approval, budget), connecting with agents early, exploring locations, and avoiding big purchases; sellers should declutter, depersonalize, improve curb appeal/home health (air quality), and consider smart tech upgrades for showing, all while navigating potentially stabilizing (but still high) prices and improving mortgage rates
Looking Back at 2025
The 2025 real estate year ended with a market rebalancing: slowing price growth, increased inventory (though uneven), and normalizing conditions after past booms, favoring buyers with more time and negotiation power, while sellers learned pricing discipline. Buyers sought multi-use, adaptable homes, while seniors (Baby Boomers) dominated transactions, shifting focus to affordability and value. Key trends included rising agent churn, tech/MLS debates, and stabilization, looks to set a path for gradual "normalization" in the new year.
