Why Now Might Be the Perfect Time to Restart Your Home Search
If you hit pause on your home search over the past couple of years, you definitely weren’t alone—and the good news? You’re not out of luck. In fact, now might be one of the best times we’ve seen in a while to jump back in.
Between more homes hitting the market, prices starting to level off, and mortgage rates finally easing a bit, today’s market is offering something we haven’t seen much of lately: options.
💰 Affordability Is Finally Improving
For a while, the combination of high prices and rising mortgage rates made things tough for buyers. But that’s slowly changing.
Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, explains it well:
“Slower price growth coupled with a slight drop in mortgage rates will improve affordability and create a window for some buyers to get into the market.”
Mortgage rates have come down from their recent highs, and home prices aren’t climbing as quickly as they were. Together, that’s giving buyers a little more breathing room—and more opportunity.
🏠 More Homes, More Choices
Another big shift we’re seeing is inventory. According to Realtor.com, there are 17% more homes for sale now than this time last year. That means more variety, less competition, and a better shot at finding the home that really fits your lifestyle—whether that’s a shorter commute, a bigger yard, or a place that finally checks all your boxes.
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, summed it up perfectly:
“Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price.”
In short—buyers have a little more leverage again.
🌎 What’s Happening Around the Country
Inventory is up everywhere, but the details look a bit different depending on where you are. In areas like the South and West, housing supply has fully bounced back to (or even surpassed) pre-pandemic levels. The Northeast and Midwest are still playing catch-up, but overall, every region has seen improvement.
That means more choices everywhere. And with fewer buyers competing for homes, many sellers are more open to negotiating—something we didn’t see much of a couple of years ago.
🤝 Why It Matters to Have a Local Expert
While national trends tell part of the story, what’s happening here in the Greater Seattle and Eastside areas may look a little different. That’s where working with a local agent comes in handy. I can help you understand what’s happening in your exact neighborhood—what’s selling, what’s sitting, and where the best opportunities are right now.
So if you took a break from house hunting because it felt too competitive, too expensive, or just too stressful… this could be your moment to take another look.
And if you’re not ready to buy just yet, that’s okay too. We can start by planning ahead—looking at your budget, getting pre-approved, and setting you up so you’re ready when the right home comes along.
Bottom Line
This isn’t 2021. It’s not even 2023.
This is a new market—one that’s giving buyers a little more room to breathe and more homes to choose from.
If you’re curious about what’s available in your area or want a custom market snapshot, I’d love to help you get started. Let’s connect and see what’s out there—you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
