Housing Market in 2026: 4 Types Buyers and Sellers Face

There Are 4 Housing Markets Right Now. Which One Are You In?

Today’s housing market splits into four distinct types. You’ve got cash buyers, buyers financing a purchase, owners who feel locked into a low rate, and builders with homes to sell. Which type you’re in changes how you should buy or sell. Ryan Serhant, CEO of SERHANT agrees:

“There is no longer a housing market . . . There are four Americas.”

Here’s what each looks like, and what it means for you.

Cash Buyers: 1 in 4 Buyers Are Paying with Cash

If you already own a home, you may be able to buy your next place in cash thanks to your equity. In fact, 26% of existing home sales this summer were all-cash, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That's…

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How to Get a Lower Mortgage Rate in 2026: 3 Things to Try

3 Things You Can Control To Get a Better Mortgage Rate

If you're trying to buy a home, affordability is probably what keeps you up at night. And as you watch mortgage rates tick up again lately, it’s fair to wonder if you should just hit pause and wait for them to go down.

For now, though, they’re headed the other way. Mortgage News Daily data shows how mortgage rates have risen this year (see graph below):

And if you’re wondering why? There are actually a number of reasons. 

Mortgage rates are impacted by the situation overseas, economic data, inflation numbers, oil prices, and even decisions from the Federal Reserve (who recently decided to hike their Fed Funds Rate – which often affects mortgage rates too). As Danielle Hale, Chief…

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Are New Construction Homes Cheaper Than Existing Homes in 2026?

New Construction Homes May Cost Less Than Existing Homes Right Now

Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s actually backwards. Newly built homes are more affordable than existing ones in a lot of markets. And that’s because builders are cutting prices and stacking on incentives to try to keep their inventory moving.

Here’s why that’s really important for any would-be homebuyer to know.

Newly Built Homes Are the Better Deal Right Now

According to the latest data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a newly built home now typically costs about $40,000 less than an existing one (see graph below):

Builders aren’t like homeowners who can wait for the right…

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The “Take It or Leave It” Attitude Is Fading from the Market – What That Means for You

Negotiations are back. More buyers are asking for better deals, and more sellers are giving them. Builders are throwing in extras, too. 

That’s why whether you’re buying or selling today, there are two terms you’ll hear a lot: concession and incentive.

• A concession is something a seller agrees to during negotiations to get a deal done.

• An incentive is a perk a builder (or a seller) advertises upfront to attract buyers.

Let’s run through what you need to know about both and how they could play a role in your move.

More Sellers Are Agreeing to Concessions

Almost half (46%) of homeowners who sold recently gave the buyer a concession, according to Redfin. That’s the highest share on record for this time of year. And roughly…

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Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Buyers

You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured.

That’s the reality for a lot of buyers right now. Affordability is tight.

But don’t let that discourage you. Going smaller might actually be a smart play in today’s market – and the upside can be bigger than you'd think. Let’s break down two places to look where smaller won’t necessarily feel like a compromise.

Homebuilders Are Focused on Smaller Options Lately

For starters, smaller is kind of on trend right now. Newly built homes have been shrinking for years. According to the latest data from the Census, the median square footage of new single-family homes has been falling overall since 2014…

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Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low

If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.

The median sale price of a newly built home is now at its lowest level since 2021, according to the latest data from the Census. And on top of that, builders are still rolling out incentives to bring buyers through the door.

Here's what's happening, and what it means if you're shopping right now.

Prices on Newly Built Homes Have Come Down

After a steep climb during the pandemic years, prices have eased a bit. The median sale price of newly built homes is sitting at about $390,000. That’s the lowest it's been in nearly five years (see graph below):

While local markets vary, the national trend is moving in your favor,…

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Move-Up Buyers Are Choosing New Construction

At some point, a house that once felt perfect just… doesn’t anymore.

Maybe you need more space.

Maybe working from home turned your dining room into a permanent office.

Maybe the layout just doesn’t match how you live now.

If your current house is starting to feel like it’s holding you back instead of supporting your life, it’s natural to think about making a move. But that brings up the next big question: once you sell, where do you go?

For a growing number of buyers, the answer is something brand new.

New Construction Is a More Popular Choice Lately

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more people are buying new homes than they have in years. The latest annual data available shows 16% of homes purchased were…

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Why Townhomes Are Popular with Today’s First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home can feel frustrating when the numbers don’t line up the way you expected. You may know you’re ready but finding something that fits your life and your budget is the hard part.

That’s where townhomes come in.

Townhomes are becoming a bigger part of today’s housing supply, and that shift is opening doors for first-time buyers in a way we haven’t seen in years. That’s because they offer a more realistic path to step into homeownership without stretching yourself too thin, especially in a market where affordability can still feel tight.

There Are More Townhomes To Choose From

Builders are building more townhomes than they have in decades. In fact, when you look at data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), …

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This May Be the Best Time To Buy a Brand-New Home

New home construction today is giving buyers something it feels like they haven't gotten much lately: a real shot at both the home they want and the deal they need. More brand-new options are on the market right now, and builders are rolling out incentives that make these homes more affordable than many people expect.

It’s a combination that doesn’t come around often – and it’s putting buyers in a surprisingly strong position this season. Here’s why this moment matters and why it’s worth partnering with your own local agent to take advantage of it.

1. More New Homes Are Available Now – and That May Not Last

There’s more new construction on the market today than normal. And for buyers, that means:

• More cutting-edge communities
• More…

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Are Builders Overbuilding Again? Let’s Look at the Facts.

If it feels like you’re seeing new construction signs pop up everywhere, you’re not wrong. Builders have been busy. And it’s left some people wondering: Are we overbuilding like we did right before the 2008 housing crash?

No matter what you may hear in the news, there’s no reason for alarm. In reality, data shows builders aren’t racing ahead, they’re actually starting to tap the brakes.

Builders Are Pulling Back, Not Piling On

Permits (applications to start building new homes) are one of the best early indicators for what's next for home construction. And right now, building permits are trending down, not up. Here’s why that’s so important.

In the years before the housing crash of 2008, builders really ramped up their production of…

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