The Three Housing Market Questions Everyone’s Asking This Season

From holiday dinners to end-of-year get-togethers, it doesn’t take long for the conversation to turn to real estate. Someone brings up mortgage rates. Someone else wonders if prices are about to drop. And before you know it, the housing market is the topic of the night.

Here are the three questions we’re hearing most often this season and what the data actually says, in plain terms.

Can I even find a home if I want to move?

Yes, and you likely have more options than you did a year or two ago.

Inventory has been steadily rising, and for six straight months there have been more than one million homes for sale nationwide. That hasn’t happened since 2019. The result is a market that feels far less cramped than it did during the peak of the frenzy. For buyers, that means more choice, less pressure, and more time to evaluate options instead of rushing into a decision. For sellers who also need to buy their next home, it means there are more realistic paths forward. If you paused your search because everything felt picked over or rushed, this shift is worth paying attention to.

Will I ever be able to afford a house?

Affordability is finally showing signs of improvement.

Over the past year, mortgage rates have eased from their highs and home price growth has slowed. Together, those changes have made a noticeable difference in monthly payments, often hundreds of dollars less than what buyers were facing not long ago. Buying a home still takes planning and intention, but for many households it’s no longer feeling completely out of reach. The market isn’t easy, but it is becoming more workable than it’s been in years.

Should I wait for prices to come down?

This is the big one, and the data doesn’t support the idea of a major price drop.

While inventory is up, it’s still well below the level needed to cause widespread price declines. At the same time, today’s homeowners are sitting on strong equity positions and far healthier finances than during past downturns. That matters. Some local markets are cooling, and a few are seeing modest corrections after rapid run-ups. But nationally, experts surveyed by Fannie Mae expect prices to continue rising, just at a slower, more sustainable pace. Historically, the people who benefit most are the ones who spend time in the market, not those waiting on the sidelines for the perfect moment.

Bottom Line

The housing market can sound overwhelming when you’re hearing a dozen opinions from every direction. But once you strip away the noise, the picture is much clearer, and far more manageable. If you’re wondering how these trends connect to your next move, Slater Realty Group is here to help you make sense of it and map out a smart plan forward. Let’s talk.

Source

Coldwell Banker Realty