09/26/2026
🏡 Which housing market are you in?
Today’s real estate market isn’t one-size-fits-all. In fact, buyers and sellers are experiencing very different conditions depending on their situation.
💵 CASH BUYERS
About 1 in 4 existing-home sales are all-cash. Without financing, these buyers may have more negotiating power and the ability to close faster.
🏦 FINANCED BUYERS
Mortgage rates remain a challenge, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities. Seller concessions, closing-cost credits and rate buydowns may help make the numbers work.
🔒 RATE-LOCKED HOMEOWNERS
About 2 in 3 homeowners with a mortgage have a rate below 5%, making it harder to give up that payment and move. But equity may provide more options than homeowners realize.
🏗️ NEW CONSTRUCTION BUYERS
Builders are carrying more unsold inventory than usual, which can mean opportunities for buyers through incentives, price adjustments, closing-cost assistance or rate buydowns.
The takeaway?
There isn’t just one housing market right now. Your opportunities and your strategy, depend on where you fit.
Before deciding whether to buy, sell or stay put, understanding your position in today’s market can make all the difference.