Jill Huss - Coldwell Banker Realty

09/15/2026

09/15/2026

Why Buyers Shouldn't Overlook a Fall Move

You've been waiting for something to change before you buy. It just might not be the thing you expected…

While everyone’s paying attention to mortgage rates, only the savviest buyers know that the changing season can start tipping things in their favor. Because every fall, buyers tend to get more to choose from, better prices, and more room to negotiate. And that’s why Hannah Jones, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, says:

“We always see that the best time to buy window usually falls in the early fall around October.”

And that’s exactly why, if you've been waiting for a better moment to buy, this season may be worth a closer look – even with rates where they are.

1. There Are More Homes To Choose From
One of the biggest frustrations buyers have had over the past few years has been a lack of choices. Fall tends to help with that.

Based on seasonal trends, Realtor.com data shows there are typically more homes available for sale in September through November than during any other season of the year (see graph below):

Why does this happen? Homes that hit the market in spring and summer don't all close right away. Some sit. New listings keep coming. And inventory builds as the year goes on.

By fall, you're looking at the largest pool of available homes all year. That makes it easier to find one that works for your needs and your budget. And if anything, this should be truer this year. Rates that are higher for longer tend to help inventory grow even more.

More choices can mean fewer compromises. You’re more likely to find the right home, not just the one that happens to be available.

2. Asking Prices Start To Drop
Having more choices is great. But if every home is still priced too high, that only gets you so far. That's where fall's second advantage kicks in: asking prices start their seasonal decline.
HousingWire data shows this trend over time (see graph below):

It works like this. Spring and early summer are when sellers feel the most confident because that's when demand is typically strongest. So, many homeowners price their homes higher during those periods because of the uptick in demand.

But every year, like clockwork, that dynamic starts to change by fall. Buyer activity slows down as the weather cools off. So, sellers have to price a bit lower to try to draw buyers in. And that’s good for your bottom line.

3. More Sellers Are Willing To Negotiate
But fall doesn't just bring more choices and lower asking prices. It also brings more sellers who are increasingly motivated to get a deal done.

You can see it in the data. Most years, fall is when price cuts peak according to Realtor.com data (see graph below):

While it’s not a big difference from summer, this fall you’ll have more negotiation power than you’d have if you wait until the first half of 2027. Here’s why.

If a home is on the market in the fall, many sellers are eager to get it sold before the holidays. And since there are usually fewer buyers active in the fall, that often leads to another opportunity to snag a better deal.
As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“Less competition can lead to better deals. While homes are not selling as fast as during the summer, sellers may be more willing to negotiate.”

Even a small seller compromise here can make a meaningful difference for you.

As an example, a 5% price drop on a $500,000 home is $25,000. That could mean you end up borrowing less, keeping more money in savings, having room in the budget for updates after you move in, or simply making the monthly payment feel more manageable.

Bottom Line
Of course, every market moves a little differently. But here's what doesn't change: Fall consistently buyers. More homes. Lower asking prices. Motivated sellers.

If you’ve been waiting for your search to feel a little more doable, this season may be worth another look. Let’s have a quick conversation about what's happening in our market and see whether this fall gives you opportunities you may not have had a few months ago.
__________________________

09/09/2026

Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time

If you're a homeowner getting ready to move, one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking?

There's no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted Coldwell Banker Realty agent can help you weigh all of it. But in a lot of cases these days, selling first puts you in the stronger spot.

The Advantages of Selling First
Selling is usually the trickier half of a move today, so getting it done first clears your biggest hurdle. And that’s especially true right now, because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers, which means houses are taking longer to sell than they did a year or two ago.

So how does leading with your sale pay off? Let’s start with the money.

1. You Won’t Get Stuck Paying Two Mortgages
Buy before you sell, and you could end up carrying two mortgages at once. And especially since houses are staying on the market longer these days, that overlap may drag on for more time than you’d planned. And if unexpected repairs come up, it could get even more expensive.

Selling first takes that risk off the table, so you’re not multitasking homeownership. As Ramsey Solutions puts it:

"It's best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches."

2. You Can Use Your Equity To Fuel Your Move
This is always true, but one of the biggest perks of selling first is that you’ll know exactly how much money you're walking away with. And one of the big figures that matters in that conversation is how much equity you have in your current place.

Equity is basically your house’s value minus what you still owe on your mortgage. And it adds up fast. According to Realtor.com, homeowners who’ve been in their home for 5 years have about $180,000 in equity on average. And those who’ve had their home for 6-10 years? They have over $340,000.

After you sell, you can use that money to cover your down payment or even buy your next home in cash. And knowing that profit up front helps you plan your next move.

3. Your Offer Will Be Hard To Pass Up
When your house is already sold, you don’t have to make your offer contingent on that sale. In a market where buyers are taking their time, that’s exactly what a seller wants to see.

Picture it from the seller’s side. If their house has been sitting for a while, they’ll gravitate toward the offer most likely to close without a snag.

That can also give you room to ask for a little more, like repairs, since a motivated seller would rather keep things moving than lose you and wait for another offer to come in. Your Coldwell Banker Realty agent can help you make the most of your upper hand in that scenario.

Is There a Catch?
Selling first has its tradeoffs too, and it helps to see the pros and cons side by side before you decide. Here’s a quick breakdown based on information from Zillow.

The cons are manageable with the right plan, so talk about them with your Coldwell Banker Realty agent. They can help you negotiate things like a rent-back, where you stay in your house for a set time after closing, or line up flexible closing dates to keep the transition smooth.

Bottom Line
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to buying and selling at once. But for a lot of homeowners, leading with the sale makes moving easier on their mind and their wallet. Let’s connect, so you can navigate selling and buying with more confidence, more financial power, and less stress.
_______________________

08/31/2026

*This is the average 30 year fixed from Mortgage News Dailys nationwide survey amongst multiple lenders and not necessarily CMG Home Loans Rates

08/31/2026

Inventory Hits Seven-Year High as Minnesota's Housing Market Trends Toward Balance

Minnesota’s housing market continued building momentum in July as both buyer and seller activity rose despite elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges. New listings and both pending and closed sales remained at four-year highs for the month, while inventory hit a seven-year high. Expanded inventory not only offers more choice to prospective buyers but also serves as a release valve for prices, market times and negotiations.

Pending sales under $400K were up 3.7%, while sales over $1M increased 18.0%
Single-family home sales rose 3.8%; condo sales climbed 10.2%; townhome sales were up 2.8%
Previously owned sales were 4.9% higher, while new construction sales slipped 0.2%
Two-bedroom home sales rose 2.5%, while four-or-more bedroom home sales were up 7.7%
Non-waterfront home sales increased 4.2% and private waterfront home sales rose 6.0%
Sales were up 9.8% in Minneapolis but were 4.8% lower in St. Paul

Despite increased supply, home prices have proven resilient. The statewide median home price rose 2.7% to $375,000, while the Twin Cities median price rose 3.3% to $408,000.

In the Twin Cities, inventory rose 6.7% to 11,586 homes for sale, with months' supply up 7.1% to 3.0 months. These shifts can have real impacts on market dynamics. Buyers have more choice, more time and more leverage to negotiate. Meantime, sellers across the state accepted 98.3% of their list price while metro sellers accepted 99.1%—both figures are slightly lower than last July.

To view and share this oringal article via www.mnrealtor.com, kindly click here
_______________________

Minnesota Realtors® empowers real estate professionals with advocacy, education, and resources to elevate your business and strengthen Minnesota communities.ite home page

08/25/2026

Homebuilding Improves in July, Led by Single-Family Homebuilding

Homebuilding in the Twin Cities metro showed positive signs in July, with a 10% increase in activity over the same time last year. Homebuilders pulled permits for 552 single-family homes in July.

Multifamily activity, however, saw a steep drop-off in activity for the first time this summer. Builders reported just 20 multifamily units under construction—accounting for under 5% of all construction activity.

“This month’s increase in activity is a positive sign that buyers are continuing to engage with the market,” said John Kraemer, board chair of Housing First Minnesota. “Homebuyers are more patient and thoughtful with their buying decisions in today’s market, but the desire to own a home remains strong, and that’s something builders are optimistic about.”

There were 554 permits issued for a total of 572 housing units during the four comparable weeks in July, according to the Keystone Report.

“The need for housing in Minnesota hasn’t diminished, but it continues to outpace supply,” said James Vagle, CEO of Housing First Minnesota. “Homebuilders are working every day to find solutions and deliver the housing our communities need. Creating more opportunities for homeownership starts with giving homeowners the full menu of home options.”

For the month in permits, Lakeville took the top spot with 60 permits. Cottage Grove came in second with 41 permits. St. Michael was the next highest with 32 permits. Maple Grove and Shakopee ranked fourth with 29 permits each, and Woodbury rounded out the top five with 26 permits.

For the month in units, Lakeville came in on top with 71 permitted units. Cottage Grove came next with 41 units, followed by St. Michael with 32 units. Maple Grove and Shakopee came fourth-highest with 29 units each. Woodbury rounded out the top five with 26 units.

To view and share this original article via newsroom.housingfirstmn.org, kindly click here
_______________________