The Market Is Starting to Shift—What It Means in Seattle & the Eastside
If you’ve been trying to make sense of the market lately… you’re not alone.
Because right now, we’re in the middle of a shift—and it’s one that actually explains a lot of what we’re seeing here in the Greater Seattle area and on the Eastside.
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
What’s changing (and why it matters)
For the first time in years, more homeowners now have mortgage rates above 6% than below 3%.
That doesn’t mean most people are at 6%.
But it does mean fewer people are locked into those ultra-low pandemic rates—and that’s starting to change behavior.
Over the past few years, that “golden handcuff” effect kept a lot of homeowners from selling.
👉 Why would you give up a 3% rate for a higher one?
That’s what created the inventory shortage we’ve been dealing with.
What I’m seeing locally
Now that more homeowners are already in that 5–7% range…
That hesitation is starting to ease.
And here’s what that looks like in our market right now:
• More listings hitting the market as we move into spring
• Buyers re-entering—but being more intentional
• Homes still moving quickly when they’re priced and prepped right
👉 Especially on the Eastside, it’s very “selective but active.”
Some homes are going quickly.
Others are sitting.
And the difference almost always comes down to strategy.
This is the shift people are feeling
The market isn’t slow.
It’s just not automatic anymore.
We’re moving away from:
❌ The frenzy where everything sold no matter what
❌ Buyers rushing into decisions
❌ No inventory, no options
And into something more balanced.
👉 Buyers have more choices
👉 Sellers still have strong opportunities
👉 But execution matters more than ever
What this means if you’re buying
You have more room to breathe than you did a couple years ago.
More options.
More time to think.
More ability to negotiate—depending on the home.
But here’s the key:
👉 When the right home comes up… you still need to move.
That’s why being prepared matters—because the good ones don’t last.
What this means if you’re selling
This is where strategy really matters.
The homes that are:
✔️ Priced correctly
✔️ Well prepared
✔️ Marketed intentionally
…are still doing very well.
The ones that aren’t?
They sit—and that’s where sellers lose leverage.
How this connects to everything else right now
This shift is exactly why we’re recommending things like:
👉 Pre-inspections
Because buyers are more cautious—and surprises during inspection are still the #1 reason deals fall apart.
👉 Understanding what “The One” feels like
Because buyers aren’t jumping on everything—they’re waiting for the right fit.
Everything happening right now ties back to one thing:
👉 This is a more thoughtful market.
My take
Honestly, this is a healthier market than what we’ve seen in the past few years.
There’s opportunity on both sides—but it’s not automatic.
It comes down to:
• Preparation
• Strategy
• And making confident decisions when it matters
If you’re thinking about making a move this year—or just trying to understand what this means for you—I’m always happy to be a resource.
Real estate decisions usually start with a conversation.
Source: TheStreet
