As the market continues to cool, many homeowners who didn’t achieve the price they were aiming for are deciding to pull their homes off the market. According to the latest data from Realtor.com, the number of homeowners making that choice has jumped 38% since the start of this year and 48% compared to last June. To give that some context, for every 100 new listings in June, about 21 homes were removed from the market.
If you’ve found yourself in that position, you’re not alone. It’s understandable to feel discouraged when the market doesn’t respond the way you hoped. While slowdowns can feel discouraging in the moment, history reminds us that they’re temporary. Markets shift, conditions improve, and opportunities return.
History Repeats Itself: Proof from the Past
This isn’t the first time the housing market has faced a slowdown, and it won’t be the last. History gives us some perspective on how the market reacts when challenges arise:
- 1980s: With mortgage rates soaring past 18%, buyers hit pause and sales slowed for years. Once rates finally dropped, demand returned and the market regained momentum.
- 2008: The Great Financial Crisis brought one of the sharpest housing downturns in history, with both sales and prices falling dramatically. Even then, the market bounced back as the economy recovered.
- 2020: At the start of the COVID pandemic, home sales nearly vanished overnight. The rebound came quickly, with buyers rushing back as soon as restrictions were lifted.
The takeaway is simple: no matter the cause, the market has always found its way back. While today’s slowdown may feel discouraging, history shows that patience and perspective often pay off.
Today’s Situation: Where We Stand Now
Over the past few years, the housing market has struggled with sluggish sales. A major factor behind this slowdown is affordability. In 2022, mortgage rates surged at a record pace while home prices continued to climb. Together, those two forces made buying a home feel out of reach for many. When affordability takes a hit, demand naturally slows, and so do home sales.
The Outlook: Why Things Will Improve
But here is the encouraging part. Forecasts show that sales are expected to pick up again as we move into 2026.
Last year, about 4 million homes sold (shown in gray in the graph below). This year is shaping up to be very similar (shown in blue). Looking ahead, the average of the latest forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) suggests that sales could rise to around 4.6 million in 2026 (shown in green).
A major factor driving that projection is the expectation that mortgage rates will ease, making it more affordable for buyers to re-enter the market.
What we are experiencing now is part of a cycle the housing market has seen many times before. Every slowdown eventually gives way to more activity, and this one will as well.
Just like in the 1980s, 2008, and 2020, today’s dip in home sales is only temporary.
What That Means for You
If you have pressed pause on your moving plans, you made the choice that felt right for you. It is natural to feel frustrated, but it is also important to keep the bigger picture in mind. Housing slowdowns do not last forever.
This is where a trusted local real estate agent can make all the difference. Their role is to watch the market closely and guide you through the shifts. When the first signs of a rebound appear, they will help you recognize the change early so you can relist your home with confidence.
Bottom Line
If today’s housing market feels stuck, remember that it has never stayed that way for long. Slowdowns end, activity returns, and people start moving again. Let’s connect so you are prepared, because when the next wave of buyers arrives, you will not want to miss it.
As the market picks up, will you be ready to put your house back on the market, or do you need to make a move sooner?
