Buyers: What You Need to Know About the “New Normal” Housing Market in 2026
When the market shifted during the pandemic, many buyers felt locked out, pushed aside, or simply overwhelmed. Some waited. Some tried and lost. Some stepped back entirely.
But here’s the truth I walked away with after listening to Brian Buffini’s analysis:
2026 will be the best opportunity buyers have had in years.
Not because prices will crash—they won’t.
Not because rates will fall to 2.7% again—they can’t.
But because the market is finally returning to something honest, steady, and recognizable.
1. Artificial Rates Are Gone — and That’s a Good Thing
Buffini put it bluntly:
“Unless you personally start another worldwide pandemic—which I don’t recommend—we are not going back to those rates.”
Rates in the 2s and 3s were not natural. They were engineered by emergency economic policy.
Now, with rates stabilizing and potentially easing into the mid-5s or even 6s five million Americans become newly mortgage-eligible.
That is real opportunity.
2. Inventory in 2026 Will Look Like Inventory in 2019
And 2019 was a healthy buyer market.
Not perfect.
Not easy.
But possible.
We’re finally seeing:
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More balanced supply
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More days on market
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More negotiation power
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Less panic buying
In other words—buyers can breathe again.
3. First-Time Buyers Need Hope and a Plan
One of the most powerful insights Buffini shared was this:
“Young buyers today don’t lack desire—they lack hope.”
He talked about young adults turning to crypto and online gambling to try and “hit” a down payment😡. He talked about delayed homeownership, discouraged buyers, and people believing the lie that renting is smarter.
But buying in your 30s or 40s is not failure.
Buying later is still buying.
And I want to say this clearly, from me to you:
If you’re ready, or even curious, you are not behind. You are not too late. You are not disqualified. You just need guidance—and you need the right plan.
4. Why You Need a Skilled Buyer Agent More Than Ever
The return to normal means:
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Homes won’t fly off the shelf
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You’ll have choices
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You can negotiate strategically
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Sellers are more realistic
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Inspections and concessions are back on the table
But it also means this:
Strategy matters.
Understanding the market matters.
Positioning matters.
Representation matters.
This is where experience, interpretation, and market literacy truly matter—and I’ve built my buyer service plan around exactly that.
Call to Action
If you're thinking about buying in 2026, don’t wait until spring to get prepared.
Now is the time to understand your numbers, position yourself, and build a plan.
Reach out. Let’s talk. I will help you buy smart and confidently in a normalcy we haven’t seen for years.
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