R
ealtor.com’s latest data pinpoints the week of Oct. 12‑18 as the optimal moment to purchase a home. During that span, buyers encounter a rare mix of increased inventory, lower prices, and reduced competition. The report highlights that October typically sees about a 5.5 % drop in home prices and a 15.7 % rise in listings, giving buyers more choices. With competition down by 30.6 % and potential savings around $15,000, the week is a prime buying window.

    If your goal is to sell, experts advise postponing until 2026. GOBankingRates consulted real‑estate professionals who note that current market dynamics—shifting housing trends, high interest rates, and other variables—make waiting advantageous. Andrew Fortune, a realtor and brokerage owner in Great Colorado Homes, explains the “lock‑in” effect: a homeowner with a $400,000 mortgage moving from a 3 % to a 6.5 % rate would pay an extra $200 a month, or $2,400 a year in interest. Most people find that math unacceptable, so they stay put. By holding onto the property until rates potentially fall, sellers avoid locking in a higher mortgage and can benefit from a more favorable rate environment.

    Fortune notes that over 80 % of homeowners are locked into rates below 6 %. In Colorado Springs, many clients still carry pandemic‑era rates near 3 %. Current rates hover between 6.5 % and 7 %, and analysts predict a decline to below 6 % only by late 2025 or 2026. Jacob Naig, a licensed agent, investor, and owner of We Buy Houses in Des Moines, stresses that rates are high relative to the low season of 2020‑21. He argues that when rates eventually drop, affordability rises, buyer demand surges, and home values climb. Selling during a rate decline could add an extra 5‑10 % to the final sale price, thanks to increased buyer competition and the potential return of bidding wars. With more options, sellers can avoid concessions and dictate the terms of the transaction.