Here’s something you should know before you sell your house. The homeowners who win in today’s market aren’t the ones waiting it out or stepping back. They’re the ones who adapt from the start.
A number of homeowners this year didn’t get the outcome they wanted. But it’s not because something’s wrong with the market. It’s because something wasn’t right with their expectations.
Realtor.com reports 57% more homes have been taken off the market compared to last year. That means they listed... but didn’t sell. But here’s the honest truth. It was mostly because of two things: price and timing.
And if the seller had come in with the right mindset on each, their sale would’ve gone differently. Here are the top 2 things you can learn from those other sellers.
1. Price It Right from Day 1
Let's start with the most common sticking point: the asking price. Today ...

 


After several years of high mortgage rates and hesitation from buyers, momentum is quietly building beneath the surface of the housing market. Sellers are reappearing. Buyers are re-engaging. And for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s movement happening again.
No, it’s not a surge. But it is a shift – and it’s one that could set the stage for a stronger year in 2026.
So, what’s driving the comeback? Here are three big trends that are slowly breathing life back into the housing market right now.
1. Mortgage Rates Have Been Coming Down
Mortgage rates are always going to have their ups and downs – that's just how rates work. Especially with the general economic uncertainty right now, some volatility is to be expected. But, if you zoom out, it’s the larger trend that really matters most.
And overall, rates have been trending down for most of this year (see graph below):
And in just t ...

 


If you’re planning to buy a home this year, there’s one expense you can’t afford to overlook: closing costs.
Almost every buyer knows they exist, but not that many know exactly what they cover, or how different they can be based on where you're buying. So, let’s break them down.
What Are Closing Costs?
Your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you make when finalizing your home purchase. Every buyer has them. According to Freddie Mac, they typically include things like homeowner insurance and title insurance, as well as various fees for your:

Loan application
Credit report
Loan origination
Home appraisal
Home inspection
Property survey
Attorney

National vs. Local: Why the Numbers Look So Different
When you search for information about closing costs online, you’ll often see a national range, usually 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price. While that’s a useful starting point if you’re wo ...

 


If you’ve been thinking about downsizing to lower your expenses, be closer to family, or just make life easier, here's a trend worth paying attention to:
More homeowners are buying their next house outright, without taking on a new mortgage. And, if you’ve owned your home for a while, you may be able to do the same. No mortgage. No monthly housing payments.
A Record Share of Homeowners Are Mortgage-Free
According to analysis from ResiClub of Census data, more than 40% of U.S. owner-occupied homes are mortgage-free – an all-time high for this data series. That means 4 in 10 homeowners own their homes free and clear (see graph below):
One big reason for this trend? Demographics. As Baby Boomers age and stay in their homes longer, many have had the time to fully pay off their mortgages. You might be in that group too and not even realize just how much buying power you now have. It’s time ...

 
 
79% of homeowners surveyed regret waiting to sell. If you’ve been holding off, take this as your sign. Don’t let “I wish I sold sooner” become part of your story. #SellingTips #HomeforSale #KeepingCurrentMatters ...