Momentum appears to be building and buyers are re-engaging as we enter 2026. What's changed?
First off, mortgage rates are coming down. For a while there, mortgage rates were seen as high due to our record low rates from just a short couple years ago. When they rose again, buyers had less leeway to make a purchase. In the last few months, we've seen rates trending downward and expect this to continue slowly into 2026. This will increase buying power of budgets and make your home more accessible while allowing it to continue appreciating.
We've also got more inventory as of recently. This October is the closest our inventory has been to levels in 2016 according to Realtor.com. October 2019 had 1,208,337 active listings, while October 2025 had 1,100,001 active listings. The higher the inventory, the more options buyers have, bringing greater balance to our market to inspire growth.
Along with this rise in inventory and mortgage rates coming down, there are more buyers re-entering the market. The Mortgage Bankers Association has seen purchase applications go up since the previous year, and experts believe this momentum will continue. Everything points to a healthier market that brews growth, so connect with an agent to make the most of 2026!