Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy a home in the next 12 months. This year, that number rose to 17%.

That 2% increase might not sound like a big jump, but in a market where buyer demand has been cooling for the past few years, it’s a sign things are starting to shift. More people are feeling ready (or at least closer to ready) to take the leap and buy a home in 2026.

And if you’re in that camp and buying a home is on your goal sheet this year, this is your nudge to connect with a local agent and a trusted lender to start laying the groundwork now.

Planning To Move in Early 2026? Start with These 4 Steps

If you’re eager to get the ball rolling right away, here’s what to tackle first:

1. Get pre-approved. A pre-approval gives you a real understanding of your buying power and what your payment could be at today’s rates. But keep in mind, Experian says most pre-approvals are only good for 30-90 days, so this step makes the most sense as you’re ready to get serious.
2. Run the numbers. Look closely at all your expenses to come up with your budget. Consider what you’re spending on other bills and what your monthly mortgage payment would be once you buy. That way you go in with open eyes and you don’t stretch too far.
3. Define your non-negotiables. Once you know the numbers work, figure out your must-haves. This includes your desired location, commute, layout, school district, lifestyle needs, etc. Getting clear on these now makes decisions easier once you start looking at homes.
4. Choose your agent early. Look at reviews online and talk to multiple agents to find one you trust that you also click with. The right agent does more than show homes. They help you understand pricing, competition, timing, and strategy before you ever write an offer.

Thinking about Buying Later in the Year? This Is Still Your Window To Prepare

Even if buying feels like a late-2026 goal, this moment still matters. The buyers who feel the most confident later are usually the ones who quietly prepared earlier.

That doesn’t mean big financial commitments or major lifestyle changes. It just means setting yourself up so you’re ready when the timing is right. Here are a few low-stress ways to do that:

1. Work on your credit. While you don’t need to have perfect credit to buy a home, your score can have an impact on your loan terms and even your mortgage rate. So, working to bring up your score has its perks. Paying down debt now and making payments on time can help bring your score up.
2. Automate your savings. If you have to remember to transfer money into your homebuying savings manually, you may forget to do it. So, you may want to set up automatic transfers to drive consistency and remove the temptation to spend the money elsewhere.
3. Lean into your side hustles: Do you have a gig you do (or have done before) to net some extra cash? Taking on part-time work, freelance jobs, or picking up a side hustle can help give your savings a boost.
4. Put any unexpected cash to good use: If you get any sudden windfalls, like a tax refund, bonus, inheritance, or cash gift from family, put it toward your house fund. You’ll thank yourself later.

The common thread here? The right prep work makes a difference.

Bottom Line

If buying a home in 2026 is on your radar, start the conversation now. Not to rush a decision, but to give yourself time and clarity.

Because every move (whether it’s next year or later) is smoother when it starts with a plan. And if you need help coming up with one that works, connect with a trusted agent and lender.

You may not want to put your homebuying plans into hibernation mode this winter. While a lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to buy a house, new data shows January may actually be the best time of year for budget-conscious buyers. 

Kind of surprising, right? Here’s why January deserves a serious look.

1. Prices Tend To Be Lower This Time of Year

Lending Tree says January is the least expensive month to buy a home. And there’s something to that. January has historically offered one of the lowest price-per-square-foot points of the entire year. But the spring? That’s when demand (and prices) usually peak. And that’s not speculation – it’s a well-known trend based on years of market data.

So, how much less are we talking? Here’s a look at the numbers. According to the last full year of data, for the typical 1,500 square foot house, buyers who closed on their home in January paid around $23,000 less compared to those who bought in May. And that general trend typically holds true each year (see chart below):

Now, your number is going to depend on the price, size, and type of the home you’re buying. But the trend is clear. For today’s buyers, it’s meaningful savings, especially when affordability is still tight for so many households.

2. Fewer Buyers and More Motivated Sellers 

And why do buyers typically save in the winter? It’s simple. Winter is one of the slowest times in the housing market each year. Both buyers and sellers tend to pull back, thinking it’s better to wait until spring. And that means:

• You face less competition
• You’re less likely to get into a multiple offer scenario
• Sellers are more willing to negotiate (since there aren’t as many buyers)

With fewer buyers in the market, you can take your time browsing.

But winter doesn’t just thin out the pool of buyers, it also reveals which sellers truly need to sell. Because fewer people are house hunting during the colder months, sellers who really need to move tend to be more open to negotiating. As Realtor.com explains:

“Less competition means fewer bidding wars and more power to negotiate the extras that add up: closing cost credits, home warranties, even repair concessions. . . these concessions can end up knocking thousands of dollars off the price of a home.”

This can include everything from price cuts to covering closing costs, adjusting timelines, and more. It doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get discounts on every home. But it does mean you’re more likely to be taken seriously and given room to negotiate.

Should You Wait for Spring?

Here’s the real takeaway. When you remove the pressure and frenzy that comes with the busy spring season, it becomes much easier to get the home you want at a price that fits your budget.

But if you wait until spring, more buyers will be in the market. So, waiting could actually mean you spend more and you’d have to deal with more stress.

Now, only you can decide the right timing for your life, but don’t assume you should wait for warmer weather before you move.

Buying in January gives you: less competition, potentially lower prices, and more motivated sellers. And those are three perks you’re not going to see if you wait until spring.

Bottom Line

If you’ve been thinking about taking the next step, this season might give you more opportunity than you think.

Curious what buying in January could look like for you? Talk to a local agent who can help you take a closer look at your numbers and the homes that are available in your area.

New home construction today is giving buyers something it feels like they haven’t gotten much lately: a real shot at both the home they want and the deal they need. More brand-new options are on the market right now, and builders are rolling out incentives that make these homes more affordable than many people expect.

It’s a combination that doesn’t come around often – and it’s putting buyers in a surprisingly strong position this season. Here’s why this moment matters and why it’s worth partnering with your own local agent to take advantage of it.

1. More New Homes Are Available Now – and That May Not Last

There’s more new construction on the market today than normal. And for buyers, that means:

• More cutting-edge communities
• More move-in-ready homes
• More floor plans to pick from
• More upgraded designs and modern features

But that variety may not last.

Data from Zonda shows that even though it feels like new homes are popping up just about everywhere, builders have actually started pulling back. The number of starts (that’s when builders break ground) has been slowly but steadily declining over the past few years. And that’s good because it prevents overbuilding nationally.

But here’s the real insight that can give you an edge. Forecasts show that slight downward trend should continue next year (see graph below):

It’s a signal that the new inventory we have now may be your widest pool of all-new options for a while.

Today, Redfin says roughly 1 in 3 homes (27%) on the market are new builds. That’s higher than the norm, but the lowest share in four years. And it makes sense based on the graph above.

That means if you want more options to choose from, now’s the time to look.

And if you’re wondering: why the pullback? It’s simple. Since there are already more new homes for sale than usual, builders want to focus on selling down the supply they already have on the market rather than adding more new homes. And that leads to point two.

2. Builder Incentives Just Hit an All-Time High

Here’s where things get even better for buyers. To make sure the inventory they have now keeps moving, builders are offering incentives at levels not seen in years – and many of those perks directly help buyers with affordability. Buyers today are getting:

• Lower Prices: Builders are dropping the prices on their brand-new homes to draw in buyers.
• Help with Closing Costs: Some builders are covering thousands of dollars in fees to reduce the upfront cost of buying.
• Extra Upgrades: Think premium finishes, appliance packages, and designer features, all added at no extra cost.
• Mortgage Rate Buydowns: This is when the builder pays to get you a lower mortgage rate, which reduces your monthly payments and helps with affordability.

But you don’t have to be lucky to see these types of perks. The truth is, the vast majority of builders are offering advantages like these right now. According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) 65% of builders say they’re using some type of sales incentive and:

“. . . 41% of builders reported cutting prices in November, a record high in the post-Covid period and the first time this measure has passed 40%.”

That’s a big deal. It shows how willing builders are to negotiate right now.

And if you look closely at the graph, you’ll notice the use of incentives typically falls in the early part of the year, as buyer demand rises going into the spring. So, you have an edge if you act now. This may be your ideal window to find the most options and better prices.

If you lean on your own agent and you’re savvy about what you ask for, you could walk away with some of the best perks buyers have seen in years. And when every dollar counts and any incentive helps your bottom line, that’s worth looking into. 

More options and more savings = an offer too good to pass up.

Bottom Line

With most builders offering generous incentives and a wider selection of new homes for sale, buyers may be looking at one of the best times in years to buy a new build.

Connect with a local agent if you want to know which communities, builders, and incentives offer the most value today. Having your own agent (not the builder’s representative) makes the sale and negotiation process that much easier for you.

If you could have a brand-new home for less than you may expect, would you be interested?