by Denise Olivares-Molina | Jul 20, 2026 | Advice for Buyers, Buyers, Buying A Home, Buying Myths, Buying Tips, Economy, Elegant Designs, Housing Market, Housing Market Insights, Housing Market Shifts, Housing Market Updates, Infographic, Market Trends, Market Updates, Real Estate Finances, Real Estate Goals, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Market 2026, Real Estate Trends in 2026, Recipes, Weekly
If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from.
In many places, both sticking points are letting up this summer, with lower asking prices and more homes for sale. Let’s look at the trends, and what they mean for your search.
Sellers Are Pricing To Attract Buyers
According to Realtor.com, the national median asking price was $430,000 in June, nearly $11,000 under what it was the year before (see graph below):
That’s the eighth month in a row that the typical asking price has dipped below where they were the previous year, according to the same Realtor.com report.
And while falling prices can sound worrying, this isn’t a sign of an impending crash. We’re talking about asking prices, not sold prices. This is a sign that today’s sellers are meeting the market where it is and pricing to draw buyers. And that’s actually something normal we’d expect from the market. As Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, puts it:
“Sellers are reading market conditions and are pricing accordingly from the start rather than listing high and cutting later, and buyers are taking note and making bids. This is a welcome sign that we are in a functioning market.”
Asking prices were never going to climb forever – now they’re just settling closer to what buyers can actually pay. That signals a healthier market, and sellers re-adjusting their expectations.
More Homes Are Available Now
If you’ve spent the past few years watching homes disappear before you could even schedule a tour, this is for you.
Supply is starting to catch up. According to Realtor.com, the number of homes listed for sale in June was the highest June number we’ve seen in three years (see graph below):
This means more options for you and less competition for each one.
Now, supply is not back to normal everywhere. As you can see, we’re still down from where we were back in 2017-2019. But in many places, it’s better than it’s been in a while. Here’s how that helps you.
You don’t have to rush an offer just to stay in the running, and you have better odds of finding and landing the right home, not just the one that’s available. Plus, you’ll have more room to negotiate, so you’re searching from a stronger position than buyers had even a year ago.
Why This Is Encouraging if You’re Buying Your First Home
For first-time buyers looking for lower-priced homes, these trends line up especially well. Mischa Fisher, Chief Economist at Zillow, explains:
“The lowest price tiers are exhibiting some softness in terms of price, they also had the most listing-activity growth, the first time since 2022 that’s been the case.”
So, if you’re searching for your first place or your next house, there’s a little more to choose from and a little more give on price.
Bottom Line
If a tight budget or a thin selection has kept you from buying a home, now might be the time to restart your search.
Ready to see what’s available here? Let’s connect.
Thank You For Reading,
Denise Olivares-Molina
by Denise Olivares-Molina | Mar 30, 2026 | 2026 Housing Market, Advice for Sellers, Economy, For Sellers, Home Buying, Home Preparation, Home Prices, Home Selling Strategy, Homeowner Information, Housing Market, Housing Market Shifts, Housing Market Updates, Market Trends, Market Updates, Real Estate Finances, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Tips, Real Estate Trends in 2026, Recipes, Weekly
While the Spring season consistently offers up some of the best conditions for home sellers, Realtor.com says there’s one window where the stars really seem to align year after year. And it’s coming up fast.
Based on their analysis of historical trends, the ideal week to put your house on the market this year is: April 12–18.
And here’s why this window stands out as being particularly seller-friendly:
- Buyers Are More Active. According to the research coming out of Realtor.com, homes listed during this week typically get about 16.7% more views than in a normal week. And in a market where buyers have options, getting that extra attention can set the tone for your entire sale.
- Sales Happen Faster. Realtor.com also explains the added demand from buyers sets you up for a faster process. While homes have been taking longer to sell lately, homes up for sale this week were on the market for 17% less time than usual. And that’s a difference you’ll be able to feel.
- A Better Price for Your House. Since the number of homes for sale has grown, it’s normal for buyers to ask for credits, repairs, and price adjustments today. But, during this early Spring window, about 18.9% fewer homes do a price cut. That gives you a better chance of getting your full asking price.
- More Profit in Your Pocket. According to the study, well-prepped homes listed this week can command a price that’s about $5,300 more than the average week (and $26,000 more than homes at the start of the year).
And what seller doesn’t want more eyes on their house, getting an offer in hand sooner (rather than later), and their best shot at selling for top dollar?
What You Need To Do To Get Ready
If you’re already thinking about selling and you want to take advantage of this sweet spot, your next step is shockingly simple. Just talk to a local agent.
Their expertise on your area is going to be key over the next few weeks. Because these trends are going to vary by state, city, and even neighborhood. And your agent will use that insider knowledge to help you figure out what you need to do now to get your house ready. Including:
- What you’ll want to spruce up before listing
- How to prioritize any repairs (and contractors that can help)
- Quick wins that’ll have a big impact
- What buyers care most about today
For some sellers, that’s a few easy fixes they can knock out in the next couple of weeks. A fresh coat of paint. Some new mulch. Or some light Spring cleaning.
For others, it’s worth taking another month or so to make some minor updates before listing. And that’s okay. Because while this mid-April window may give sellers an advantage, it’s not your only opportunity to sell.
Zillow says the best time to list is in May. And that means the golden window for sellers isn’t closing after this one week. It’s open all season long.
Bottom Line
Getting your house on the market in mid-April may give you an extra edge, but the bigger opportunity is the Spring season as a whole. The real question is:
Do you know what you need to do before you can list?
Because it’s officially go-time for any seller planning a Spring move.
If you want your house to hit the market this week (or even this season), let’s talk about what it’ll take to get it ready.
Thank You For Reading
Denise Olivares-Molina
by Denise Olivares-Molina | Oct 20, 2025 | Advice for Sellers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Home value, Homeowner Information, Housing Market, Housing Market Shifts, Housing Market Updates, Pricing, Real Estate 2025, Real Estate Finances, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Tips, Recipes, Seller, Sellers, Selling A Home, Weekly
If you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to take a hit. But here’s the simple truth.
The data doesn’t point to a crash. It points to slow, continued growth.
And sure, it’s going to vary by local area. Some markets will see prices rise more than others. And some may even see small, short-term declines. But the big picture is: home prices are expected to rise nationally, not fall, over the next 5 years.
The Real Story Is in the Expert Forecasts
In the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES) from Fannie Mae, each quarter over 100 leading housing market experts weigh in on where they project home prices will go from here. And in the report that was just released, the experts agree prices are projected to climb nationally through at least 2029 (see graph below):
Here’s how to read this visual. Each bar in that graph shows an increase, not a loss. It’s just that the anticipated pace of that appreciation varies year-to-year.
And to further drive this home, let’s look at another view of where prices are and where they’re expected to go. In this version, the expert forecasts are broken into 3 categories: the overall average, the most optimistic projections, and the most pessimistic projections (see chart below):
Notice how even the most pessimistic forecasters say we’ll see prices rise by almost 5% over the next few years.
- Overall, prices are expected to rise about 15% from now through the end of 2029.
- The optimists say we’ll beat that and see a roughly 26% increase.
- And even the pessimists anticipate prices will go up by 5% during that period.
What sticks out the most? None of these groups who study the market are forecasting a crash, or even a decline, over the next 5 years.
How This Compares to “Normal” for the Market
Now, focus back on the first graph. The projections call for 2-3.5% price increases ineach of the next five years. For context, the average rate of appreciation for the last 25 years was closer to 4-5% annually.
So, while that’s slightly below the historical average, it’s much more sustainable and typical than where the market was in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Back then, prices rose too much, too fast based on record-low supply and record-high demand. Some places even saw prices climb by 15-20%.
So, while it may feel like prices are stalling compared to those pandemic-era surges, what’s really happening is that the market is finally finding balance again.
Why Prices Aren’t Expected To Crash
A lot of the chatter about home prices today is based on that rapid rise and the old saying that what goes up, must come down. But historically, that’s not really true. Home prices almost always rise.
And the main reason we’re not heading for a repeat of 2008 is simple: supply and demand.
Even though affordability challenges have made it harder for some people to buy over the past few years, there still aren’t enough homes for everyone who wants one. And that ongoing shortage is keeping upward pressure on prices nationally.
That’s why experts across the board can confidently agree: we’re not headed for a price collapse, but for steady, long-term appreciation.
And just in case it’s the economy that’s got you worried, remember this. Over the past 50 years, there have been plenty of economic events that have impacted the market. And one thing that’s consistently been true throughout time is the housing market always recovers. And we’re coming through that turn right now and going into a recovery.
Bottom Line
If you’ve been waiting to buy or sell because you’re worried about a crash, it’s time to look at the data – not the headlines.
The question isn’t if home prices will rise, it’s by how much.
Let’s connect so you know what’s happening in our local market and what these forecasts mean for your next move.
Thank You For Reading
Denise Olivares-Molina
by Denise Olivares-Molina | Oct 14, 2025 | Recipes
Serves: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 40–45 minutes
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well), peeled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the crisp topping:
- ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (cold and cut into small cubes)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish or similar.
- Prepare the apple filling:
In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- Make the crisp topping:
In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Assemble and bake:
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling.
- Serve warm—ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Notes for Colleagues or Guests
This dessert travels well and can be made ahead of time. If you’re bringing it to a meeting or event, reheat it briefly in the oven before serving to revive the crisp texture.
Try different apple varieties for a more complex flavor. Cortlands, or Northern Spy are good choices.
