Susan Shelby Pabst, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Realty

05/22/2026

Now might be a smart time to look at newly built homes.

Builders are motivated to keep their inventory moving, so they’re offering incentives like mortgage rate buydowns and closing cost help to draw in buyers.

It also means they may be more flexible on price. In fact, the median price for newly built homes just hit a five-year low for this exact reason.

Builder perks and lower prices? That’s a combo worth paying attention to.

DM me to talk through what’s available in our area and which builders are offering the best incentives today.

05/22/2026

Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low

Builder incentives and lower new home prices are working to your advantage in a way they haven't in years. Want to see what's available in your area and what kind of deal a builder may be willing to make? Let's connect.

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.

05/20/2026

You've probably heard that mortgage debt in America just hit an all-time high. And that's true.
But here's what the headline leaves out.

Equity is also near an all-time high. And at $34.1 trillion, it's more than double the $14.4 trillion in debt.

That's a good thing. It means most homeowners own far more than they owe. So, they have a real financial cushion right now.

That’s something homeowners didn’t have during the crash of 2008. Back then, people owed more than their homes were worth. Today, it’s just the opposite.

Homeowners are in a much better position, and the housing market is on stronger footing than the headlines suggest.

05/20/2026

More Sellers Are Open to Negotiating Right Now

Wondering if buyers ever catch a break in this market? Look at this. 39% of sellers say they expect to make concessions this year. That’s up from 30% in 2025. So, you may have more room to negotiate than you think. Want to know what you can ask for as a buyer? Let’s chat.

05/18/2026

“What if I buy… and home prices go down?” It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now.

And honestly, with everything in the news lately, it's easy to see where that's coming from.

No one wants to make a big financial decision at the wrong time.

But here’s the part buyers need to see.

When you look at home prices over the last several decades, data proves prices usually go up, not down.

Yes, there are a few dips in there. But they’re typically small and short-lived. So, while a few markets are seeing slight declines right now, the bigger trend is clear.

Over time, home prices almost always rise.

That’s why buying a home is generally considered a safe long-term investment (especially if you plan to live there for 5+ years).

So, try not to get too caught up in what might happen with home prices next month or next year. Focus on the bigger picture.

Want to talk through what prices are doing in our market? Send over a DM.

05/18/2026

Are Home Prices Going To Fall?

Home prices have a long track record of going up over time. And that’s why buying a home is generally considered a safe long-term investment.

That certainly doesn’t mean you have to buy now. You should only move when it makes sense, and you plan to live there for a while.

But if you’re interested, let this reassure you. If you want to talk through what home prices are doing in our market, your goals, or your timelines, let’s have a quick conversation.

It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now: “What if I buy, and home prices go down?”

05/15/2026

80% of homeowners still expect to get their asking price or more when they sell. But right now, only about 40% actually do.

That might sound surprising, but it’s not. It’s normal.

The issue is where those outdating pricing expectations are coming from.

Some sellers are still pricing high just to “see what happens.” And that strategy doesn’t work now that inventory has grown.

When a house is priced above where it should be today, buyers don’t negotiate. They move on to other options.

That’s when homes sit, and sellers have to slash prices – sometimes below what they could’ve gotten if they’d just priced right from the start.

That’s why the sellers getting the best results right now are doing something different.

They’re pricing at (or even slightly below) market value from day 1. Because that’s what creates demand early and puts you in a position to sell faster… and potentially for more.

So don’t price based on the past. Price for today’s market.

If you want to be part...

05/15/2026

The Pricing Mistake That Could Cost You Your Sale

A lot of homeowners think they can list high now and negotiate later, but that’s a mistake that costs them. And it’s the reason only 4 out of every 10 sellers are getting their asking price or more.

If you want to be in that group, it starts with getting the price right from day one.

Let’s connect so we can make sure you are.

Most sellers come into the market with one number in mind. And it’s often the one that costs them the most.

05/13/2026

Foreclosures are up, but don't panic.

Yes, filings have risen over the past year. But zoom out and look at the full picture.

We're still below historical norms – and nowhere near levels seen around 2008.
This isn't a crash. It's the market returning to normal after foreclosures were artificially low during the pandemic.

And here's something else worth knowing. These are filings. Not all of them will actually turn into completed foreclosures.

If you've been hearing a lot about this lately and want to make sense of what it means, drop a comment or send me a DM. Happy to talk it through.