🏡 The Market Is Finally Thawing: What Smart Buyers Should Know in Late 2025 - Early 2026

If you’ve spent the past year watching mortgage rates spike, listings disappear, and headlines scream “housing freeze,” here’s some good news: the market is warming back up. Slowly... but steadily. Rates have eased from their highs, inventory is climbing, and competition is shifting from all-out bidding wars to more balanced negotiations. For buyers waiting for the right moment, the next 6–12 months may be the best window we’ve seen since before the pandemic. 

Below is a buyer-focused breakdown of what’s happening and how to take advantage of the thaw instead of waiting until everyone else jumps in.

🌤️ 1. Mortgage Rates Are Down From Their Peak And Stability Is Returning

Rates have retreated from the painful peaks above 7%, settling closer to the low-6% range. While this doesn’t feel like the ultra-cheap money of 2020–2021, it does mean:

• Monthly payments are becoming more manageable
• Buyers who paused earlier this year are re-entering the market
• Lenders are offering more aggressive buydown programs again

Buyer takeaway:
Don’t hold out for 3% rates, folks. They’re not coming back. Today’s rates are the “new normal,” and they’re good enough to make the math work for many buyers who’ve been stuck on the sidelines.

📈 2. More Homes Are Hitting the Market...Finally

Inventory has climbed compared to last year, giving buyers:

• More options
• More negotiating power
• Less pressure to waive inspections or make rushed decisions

We’re not in a full buyer’s market yet, but we’re no longer in the suffocating low-inventory era where every listing drew 15 offers.

Buyer takeaway:
You can shop more confidently now. Listings aren’t vanishing in 48 hours, and sellers are more flexible than they’ve been in years.

🌇 3. Price Trends Are Flat Nationally, But Deals Exist Here in the 757!

National home values are basically flat, but beneath that average:

• Our local markets are correcting
• Homes are appreciating
• Homes have become surprisingly affordable compared to renting

This is the moment where “market timing” matters less than “market selection.”

Buyer takeaway:
If your dream city feels overpriced, look just one or two markets over. Many buyers are finding better value without giving up lifestyle, commute, or amenities.

🛠️ 4. Seller Concessions Are Back

In the ultra-competitive pandemic market, sellers didn’t have to offer you anything. Today? Buyers are receiving:

• Closing cost credits
• Mortgage buydowns
• Repair credits
• Flexible closing timelines

Buyer takeaway:
You might not get a discount on the list price, but you can save thousands through strategic negotiations.

🤖 5. Verity Group's Brivity-based AI Tools Are Helping Our Buyers Get an Edge

The proptech tools within our customer relationship management tool is empowering our buyers with:

• Hyper-local price forecasts
• AI-generated property analysis
• Real-time alerts on price drops and new listings
• Tools that compare rent vs. buy more accurately

Buyer takeaway:
Use our data to your advantage. Our modern tools, combined with our agent's expertise in our market can help you spot over-priced homes, under-valued pockets, and emerging neighborhoods long before they hit mainstream lists.

⭐ Bottom Line for 757 Buyers Waiting for the Thaw

The big crash many buyers were waiting for isn’t coming. But opportunity is and it’s happening quietly, before the mainstream headlines catch up.

Right now you have:

• Better rates than earlier this year
• More homes to choose from
• Less competition
• More negotiating room
• A more predictable rate environment

If you’ve been waiting, this may be your moment to get ahead of the next wave of demand. Reach out to any of our agents to start your home search now. 

Verity Group
https://www.veritygroup.pro
757-675-6080