Friday, October 2, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
What Higher Mortgage Rates Mean for Home Sellers
Higher mortgage rates don't just affect buyers. They can change what it takes to sell a home, too.
When borrowing costs rise, buyers become more careful about what they can afford each month. Even a small difference in mortgage rates can have a noticeable impact on their payments.
Homebuilders understand this, and many are offering incentives to make their homes more affordable. That creates another challenge for sellers: competing with new construction that may come with lower mortgage rates, closing cost assistance, or other perks.
If you're planning to sell, it's worth understanding what builders are offering and how you can compete.
Builders Are Finding Ways to Make Homes More Affordable
Despite higher mortgage rates, new-home sales have held up better than existing-home sales in recent years.
One reason is that builders have more flexibility in how they market and price their homes. Instead of relying solely on a lower aski ...
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home seller, real estate tips, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home seller tips 2026
Friday, September 25, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
Why So Many Sellers Are Cutting Their Prices Right Now
If you've been watching the housing market lately, you've probably noticed something:
Price cuts are everywhere.
For sellers, that can be frustrating. Nobody wants to put their home on the market and then reduce the asking price a few weeks later.
For buyers, though, a price reduction can look like an opportunity, or a warning sign.
But with price cuts becoming increasingly common, a reduction doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with the house.
In many cases, it simply means the original asking price didn't line up with what today's buyers were willing to pay.
And the latest numbers show just how common that has become.
More Than 4 in 10 Listings Have Had a Price Cut
According to HousingWire Data, the share of sellers cutting their asking prices has increased for seven consecutive months.
As of September 2026, 42.1% of sellers have cut their price, up from 31.9% in February.
That's a pretty significant s ...
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home buyer, home seller, buying a home, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026, home seller tips 2026, seller tips 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
Data Centers Are Moving Closer to Homes. What Could That Mean for You?
Data centers probably aren't something most people think about when they’re buying or selling a home.
School districts? Definitely.Commute times? Of course.How close you are to shopping, parks, and family? Absolutely.
A large building filled with computer servers nearby? Probably not at the top of the list.
But that may be changing.
As data centers expand into more communities across the country, they’re becoming something homebuyers and homeowners may need to consider. And that raises some reasonable questions:
Could a data center affect home values? What about noise? Electricity costs? Infrastructure? And should buyers be concerned if one is planned nearby?
The answer isn't simply "yes" or "no." The impact can depend heavily on the location, the size of the facility, how close it is to homes, and how the project is designed and regulated.
Here's what the data tells us so far.
Data Ce ...
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home buyer, buying a home, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026
Thursday, September 3, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
Why Buyers Shouldn’t Overlook a Fall Move
If you’ve been waiting for the housing market to give you a better opportunity to buy, fall may be worth paying attention to.
A lot of buyers spend most of their time watching mortgage rates. And yes, rates matter.
But they aren’t the only thing that determines whether you can get a good deal.
The time of year matters too.
Historically, fall brings something buyers have been asking for: more homes to choose from, softer asking prices, and sellers who may be more willing to negotiate.
That doesn’t mean every home suddenly becomes a bargain. And it certainly doesn’t mean every market works the same way.
But if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right opportunity, there are a few reasons not to write off the fall market.
1. There Are Usually More Homes to Choose From
One of the biggest problems buyers have faced in recent years has been a lack of inventory.
You find a house you like ...
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home buyer, home buying, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026
Thursday, August 27, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
Sellers Are Cutting Prices: What It Means for Home Buyers Today
Are sellers lowering home prices in 2026? Yes—but that doesn’t mean every home is suddenly a bargain. Across many markets, buyers have more choices, sellers are adjusting their expectations, and price reductions are becoming a bigger part of the negotiation.
If you’ve been watching the housing market and thinking, “Maybe I should wait until prices come down,” there’s another side of the story worth considering.
You may not need to wait for a major drop in home values.
Instead, you may have more negotiating power on the homes that are already for sale.
That’s an important distinction.
The housing market has changed from the frenzy of a few years ago. Buyers are more cautious about monthly payments, and sellers are increasingly recognizing that simply putting a high price on a home doesn't guarantee a buyer will pay it.
So, what is actually happening?
More Than 4 Out of 10 ...
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home buyer, home prices, home buying, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026
