Home Sweet Home
If you’ve been thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably seen plenty of headlines making it sound like buyers have disappeared. That’s simply not what’s happening. Mortgage rates are still higher than most people would like. Homes are taking longer to sell than they did a few years ago, and buyers are being more selective. But slower doesn’t mean the market has stopped. In fact, buyer activity has been stronger this year than it was during the same time over the past two years. More homes are going under contract, even during a time of year when the market typically starts to slow down. One of the best ways to measure buyer demand is by looking at pending sales, which are homes that are under contract but haven’t closed yet. Pending sales give us a real-time snapshot of what’s happening in the market, and right now they’re telling us that serious buyers are still out there. The difference is that today’s buyers aren’t casually looking at homes every weekend. Many of them have been waiting months, hoping mortgage rates would come down. At some point, life doesn’t wait anymore. Families grow, jobs change, retirements happen, and people decide they need to move regardless of where
interest rates are. That’s exactly what we’re seeing today. Buyers are accepting that higher rates may be the new normal, and they’re moving forward with their plans instead of waiting for the “perfect” time. Today’s buyers have more choices than they did during the frenzy of 2021 and 2022. That means pricing, presentation, and marketing matter. Homes that are priced correctly and prepared well are still selling, while overpriced homes continue to sit on the market. I say it all the time. The market is what it is. We don’t get to decide what buyers are willing to pay. We have to price based on today’s market, not last year’s. The good news is that the buyers are still there. The key is making sure your home stands out from the competition and is positioned correctly from day one. If you’re wondering what your home is worth in today’s market or whether now is the right time to sell, contact a local specialist to walk you through what’s happening specifically in your neighborhood and help determine what makes the most sense for your situation. Submitted by Christie Giannetto, REALTOR®, ΓEA Broker L
REACH OUT TODAY! The consultation is always FREE and without obligation. You should know what your home is worth in today’s market! Christie Giannetto | REALTOR ® Christie@AZLifestyleTeam.com SurpriseMatters.com
602.740.2313
August 2026 9
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