Crystal Taylor - RE/MAX Commonwealth

06/03/2026

The Mid-Year Housing Market Update: Why Forecasts Changed in 2026

The housing market hasn’t rebounded as quickly as experts originally hoped. But that doesn’t mean it’s stalled.

Higher inflation and lingering economic uncertainty caused economists to revise their forecasts for this year. But importantly, when those two things settle down, many experts believe the market will regain its momentum.

So don’t see this revision in forecasts as a sign of trouble. See it as a temporary reaction to overall conditions and uncertainty.

If you want to know what’s happening in our local market, and what it could mean for your plans for the rest of this year, let’s connect.

If the housing market feels confusing right now, you’re not alone.

06/02/2026

Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Buyers

Today’s smaller single-family homes and condos have more going for them than the square footage suggests. They can give your budget some breathing room and put you in a community designed with lifestyle in mind.

Curious about the options in our area? Let's connect.

You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured.

06/01/2026

The Truth About Affordability Today

Yes, rates have been volatile, and global instability is keeping them from settling down anytime soon. There’s no sugar coating that. But the full picture of affordability is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.

Want to run the real numbers for your situation? Let's talk. Reach out and let's set up a quick, no-pressure conversation.

Let's be real with each other for a second about affordability.

05/28/2026

A lot of people have been waiting for rates to drop or prices to come down before making a move. But the reality is, sometimes life changes before the market does.
A growing family.
An empty nest.
A new job.
Retirement.
Needing to be closer to loved ones.

Those are the real reasons 1 in 5 buyers last year said they felt like they had to move, no matter the market. Because life doesn't wait for the timing to be perfect.

And if that’s where you are right now, you can still move. You may even have more options than you think. You just need someone who can help you find them.

05/27/2026

After a year or more of rates coming down, things have changed. And lately, mortgage rates have been climbing again.

And if that's made you wonder whether you should delay your move until they drop, you're not the only one.

The honest truth is that rates probably won't come down much until inflation cools off and some of the global uncertainty settles. And no one knows exactly when that'll be.

But what most headlines won't tell you is that rates aren't the only thing that affects affordability. Sure, they’re a big factor, but not all of the affordability news is bad.

Wages, home prices, and inventory are all trending in a direction that could still help make your move possible.

Want to know what that actually looks like for your situation? Drop a comment or send me a DM.

Because even though rates are higher, there are pockets of opportunity in any market, if you know where to look.

05/26/2026

Price Cuts Get Bigger the Longer a House Sits Without Offers

Pricing your house high just to “see what happens” can cost you. Buyers today are quick to ignore overpriced homes. And the longer a house sits without any offers, the less it usually sells for. Want to know the right list price for your house to avoid this headache? Let’s chat.

05/25/2026

More Sellers Are Open to Negotiating Right Now

Wondering if buyers ever catch a break in this market? Look at this. 39% of sellers say they expect to make concessions this year. That’s up from 30% in 2025. So, you may have more room to negotiate than you think. Want to know what you can ask for as a buyer? Let’s chat.

05/21/2026

Are Home Prices Going To Fall?

Home prices have a long track record of going up over time. And that’s why buying a home is generally considered a safe long-term investment.

That certainly doesn’t mean you have to buy now. You should only move when it makes sense, and you plan to live there for a while.

But if you’re interested, let this reassure you. If you want to talk through what home prices are doing in our market, your goals, or your timelines, let’s have a quick conversation.

It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now: “What if I buy, and home prices go down?”

05/20/2026

You've probably heard that mortgage debt in America just hit an all-time high. And that's true.
But here's what the headline leaves out.

Equity is also near an all-time high. And at $34.1 trillion, it's more than double the $14.4 trillion in debt.

That's a good thing. It means most homeowners own far more than they owe. So, they have a real financial cushion right now.

That’s something homeowners didn’t have during the crash of 2008. Back then, people owed more than their homes were worth. Today, it’s just the opposite.

Homeowners are in a much better position, and the housing market is on stronger footing than the headlines suggest.

05/19/2026

80% of homeowners still expect to get their asking price or more when they sell. But right now, only about 40% actually do.

That might sound surprising, but it’s not. It’s normal.

The issue is where those outdating pricing expectations are coming from.

Some sellers are still pricing high just to “see what happens.” And that strategy doesn’t work now that inventory has grown.

When a house is priced above where it should be today, buyers don’t negotiate. They move on to other options.

That’s when homes sit, and sellers have to slash prices – sometimes below what they could’ve gotten if they’d just priced right from the start.

That’s why the sellers getting the best results right now are doing something different.

They’re pricing at (or even slightly below) market value from day 1. Because that’s what creates demand early and puts you in a position to sell faster… and potentially for more.

So don’t price based on the past. Price for today’s...