Is now a good time to buy a house? How to take advantage of the strongest buyer's market in years

What you'll learn ✅

• Why the 2026 spring housing market is the most buyer-friendly in years
• What's driving the shift from a seller's market to a buyer's market
• How to negotiate seller concessions, rate buydowns, and price reductions
• How long this window will last — and what to do before it closes

If you've been waiting for the right time to buy a home, the spring 2026 housing market may be your best window in years. There are far more sellers than buyers right now, home prices are barely rising, and mortgage rates recently touched four-year lows. So is now a good time to buy a house? For many buyers, the answer is yes. These factors make it a great time to consider purchasing and financing a home.

...in as little as 3 minutes — no credit impact

What the latest housing market data shows

The U.S. housing market reached a significant tipping point in December 2025: That's when sellers outnumbered buyers by over 47%, representing the largest supply-demand gap since at least 2013.

That's according to recent housing market data, which shows sellers have outnumbered buyers by more than 10% — a threshold commonly used to define a "buyer's market" — since May 2024. This shift away from a previous seller's market is propelled largely by a retreat in buyer demand; the number of active homebuyers dropped 5.9% last December to a record low of 1.34 million, the steepest fall since early 2023.

As this buyer's market solidified, home price growth decelerated. The median home sale price reached $422,921 in January, a mild 1.1% year-over-year rise that pales in comparison to the double-digit gains of several years earlier. Year-over-year price growth, in fact, has remained below 2% for 10 straight months. As a result, home sellers are increasingly compelled to compromise on price, with the average home selling for 2.1% below its final list price in January. What's more, merely 20.8% of homes sold above asking price — the lowest share for any January since 2020.

Buyer purchasing power has been further strengthened by falling financing costs, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped to around it's lowest level since September 2022 in recent months.

Why the market shifted in buyers' favor

Several forces converged at the same time to create the more buyer-friendly housing climate we have today, the experts say.

"Mortgage rates remained elevated throughout most of 2024, freezing out a large chunk of buyers who simply couldn't stomach a 7% or higher rate on top of already inflated home prices," explains Andrew Lokenauth, a personal finance expert. "At the same time, more homeowners decided to list their homes for sale. When buyers pull back and sellers push forward simultaneously, the imbalance snowballs quickly."

Consider that, for many years, plenty of homeowners have chosen to stay put and hold onto the 3% or lower mortgage rates they locked in years before during record lows.

"But life events like job changes, divorces, and the need for more space eventually trump financial inertia. Some sellers are realizing that if they don't move soon, they might miss the window before prices soften further," says Realtor Greg Field.

The result is more housing supply chasing fewer buyers, an imbalance that creates real opportunity for anyone who's prepared to purchase soon.

...in as little as 3 minutes — no credit impact

How a buyer's market helps you negotiate a better deal

Make no mistake: With more sellers and fewer buyers, prospective purchasers have greater negotiating power.

"This shift has created a buyer's market that presents a favorable scenario for negotiating better deals," Dan Rochon, an associate broker with eXp Realty, says. "Also, lower mortgage rates have combined with increased inventory, creating a perfect storm for buyers. This window may not last long, but it offers significant opportunities for those ready to capitalize on it."

Currently, many buyers can leverage their improved position to request price reductions, negotiate inspection repairs, ask for seller concessions and closing cost assistance, request rate buydowns, and push for better overall financing terms.

For example, "instead of a $10,000 price cut, you can ask the seller to pay for a 2-1 buydown, which can drop your mortgage interest rate by 2% in the first year and save you much more on monthly payments," suggests Field.

Why some homebuyers still face challenges

However, Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of real estate research for the National Association of Realtors, cautions that, while we have moved away from extremely low inventory levels, we have not solved the affordability gap — particularly for middle-income and first-time homebuyers.

"In some local markets, buyers may have more negotiating room than during recent years," says Evangelou. "But this is not the same as saying sellers are under widespread pressure. The broader market remains constrained by affordability. Many potential buyers are sidelined. Right now, middle-income buyers can afford homes priced up to roughly $300,000. At that price point, there are only about 370,000 listings nationwide. In a balanced market, they should be able to afford roughly half of all listings — instead, they can only afford about one in four."

The national inventory is currently around 4.3 months of supply, according to industry data. Evangelou notes that, over the past 25 years, a balanced market has hovered between four and six months of supply.

"That is not excess supply. That is normalization after the extreme shortage of 2021, when we were below two months of supply," she says.

Additionally, consider that real estate is hyper-local. In other words, conditions don't favor buyers in every market.

"In Middle Tennessee, we are not seeing the same level of oversupply or distress as parts of Texas or Florida. Inventory has improved, but it's not flooding the market. Conditions vary by price point, school zone, home condition, and submarket," says Timothy Trudeau, founder/principal broker with Good Fit Realty.

How long will the 2026 buyer's market last?

Ask Lokenauth and he'll tell you that this window of opportunity during the spring homebuying season is real but limited.

"If mortgage rates drop further, you'll see sidelined buyers flood back into the market," he says. "That renewed demand will eat into the inventory surplus fast. I suggest that serious buyers should act within 3 to 6 months to capitalize before competition stiffens again. History is consistent on this: Rate drops attract buyers like a sale attracts shoppers. The inventory advantage buyers enjoy right now will erode once that happens, so the clock is running."

Field is a bit more optimistic that stronger buyer purchasing power will remain in effect longer — possibly through the end of the year — before the market shifts back toward a neutral state. But in some markets, the period could be even briefer.

"In my area, I expect it to be temporary. We continue to see strong in-migration, stable employment, and high household incomes. This feels like a short window, not a reset," Trudeau adds.

Steps to buy a home in today's market

To improve your odds of affording a property, securing a mortgage, and getting a better deal on a home for sale, follow these best practices:

• Get preapproved for a mortgage loan. "Sellers will take you more seriously, and you will close faster," Lokenauth says. Learn more about how to get pre-approved for a mortgage and the difference between prequalification and preapproval.

• Shop around among different lenders to find the best rates and loan offers. Compare rates, closing costs, and terms from multiple lenders to ensure you're getting the most competitive deal. Better's AI, Betsy, does the shopping for you, evaluating 21,600 loan scenarios to find your best rate.¹

• Target homes that have had at least one price cut and have been on the market for 30 or more days. Sellers of these properties are the most motivated to unload. "Any home sitting longer than 45 days in this market is a prime candidate for a low offer or heavy repair credits," says Field.

• Hire a buyer's real estate agent who specializes in negotiation, not just transactions. A strong buyer's agent can help you navigate this market effectively.

• Present clean offers with minimal contingencies. "Aim for short inspection timelines, and offer strong earnest money. But ask about rate buydowns and lender credits," recommends Trudeau.

• Factor in the total cost of homeownership — including property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance and upkeep, and (if applicable) homeowners association costs. "I've seen buyers fall in love with an attractively low monthly mortgage payment but ignore the other $800 to $1,200 per month in other housing-related expenses," says Lokenauth. Use our mortgage calculator to get a clearer picture of your full monthly costs.

• Don't procrastinate if you are financially ready. If you're hoping that rates will fall to or below 5% while home prices simultaneously drop 20%, you can miss out on great prospects right now. "The better move is to purchase a home you can afford at today's numbers, knowing that you can refinance if mortgage rates fall further and that you'll build equity over time," Lokenauth continues.

The bottom line

Spring 2026 is shaping up to be the most buyer-friendly housing market since 2019, with lower mortgage rates, more inventory, and sellers willing to negotiate. If you're financially ready, this window may not last long.

While conditions may never be absolutely perfect, it could be the best time in years for you to score a great deal on a home as well as an affordable mortgage with preferred terms. Be realistic about what you can afford, and crunch the numbers carefully before committing to a purchase. When in doubt, consult closely with your agent, and speak with one of our mortgage experts about your financing options.

...in as little as 3 minutes — no credit impact

¹Betsy evaluates loan scenarios using currently available data across participating investors, product types, loan terms, and rate assumptions. The stated number of scenarios reflects a mathematical combination of these inputs (including multiple investors, product categories, loan terms, and rate variations) and does not represent a guarantee that all scenarios are available to every borrower or that any specific rate or loan will be offered. Actual loan options, rates, and terms depend on individual borrower qualifications, credit profile, property characteristics, loan amount, market conditions, and lender requirements at the time of application.