Happy holidays everyone! As 2025 comes to a close and the new year approaches, several folks have asked me “if 2026 is a good year to buy here in the Greater Seattle–Tacoma area?”
Today, I want to walk you through five reasons why buying in 2026 could be a good strategic move — especially right here in our local market.
#1 — Local Home Values Have Softened Slightly
A lot of you have heard the phrase, “buy low and sell high.” It’s a good way to secure upside and protect your downside when making a large purchase or investment. In 2025, we saw home values cool, and inventory increase. That means buyers have more choices and less pressure than in recent years.
#2 — Affordability Is Starting to Improve
According to Redfin’s Chief Economist, 2026 may mark a shift where affordability improves as incomes continue to rise and interest rates decline. While we probably won’t see interest rates drop into the 4% range anytime soon, even a quarter point decrease can save home buyers thousands of dollars on their mortgage.
#3 — Buyers Have More Negotiation Power
With more sellers than buyers nationally — and a calmer local market — buyers are regaining leverage. In 2025 we saw more price reductions and better terms compared to the bidding wars of the past several years. Will this continue? We expect the first part of 2026 to remain a buyer’s market, but things can change quickly and with interest rates declining we are already seeing a significant number of buyers re-entering the housing market.
#4 — Rents Are Expected to Rise
Rents in the Greater Seattle area remain stable and are expected to rise as fewer new multifamily projects come online. Construction slowed significantly in 2023, and since multifamily takes years to complete, new supply is limited, meaning less supply and to meet a rising rental demand. So if you’re renting and thinking about buying, now could be a great time to move into your first home!
#5 — Interest Rates May Drift Lower in 2026
Economists expect mortgage rates to trend down gradually through 2026. If that happens, more buyers will re-enter the market, competition will increase, and discounts may shrink — making the front half of 2026 a potential sweet spot.
Putting it all together, the early part of 2026 offers buyers the opportunity to purchase in a market that is far more favorable than we’ve seen in past years. If you or someone you know is planning to buy or sell in 2026, please be sure to reach out to us at Team@WhiteCoatRE.com Thanks, and I look forward to speaking with you soon!
