The Top 3 Housing Questions Everyone’s Asking This Holiday Season

Whether it’s a family dinner, your company holiday party, or catching up with friends you haven’t seen all year, the housing market always sneaks into the conversation. And honestly, people are confused — for good reason.

Here are the top three questions everyone’s asking right now, and straight answers that’ll help you feel a lot more grounded about what’s actually happening.

1. “Will I even be able to find a home if I want to move?”

Short answer: Yes — way more than you could a year or two ago.

Inventory has been climbing steadily. Realtor.com says we’ve had over 1 million homes on the market for six straight months — something we haven’t seen since 2019.

What that means for real people:

• Buyers finally have more choices

• Sellers finally have more places to go next

If you hit pause last year because everything was picked clean, now’s the time to take another look. Listings aren’t vanishing in 48 hours anymore. You get more time, more options, and a better shot at buying the home that actually fits your life.

2. “Will I ever be able to afford a house?”

Affordability isn’t “fixed,” but it is improving — finally.

This year delivered two pieces of good news:

• Mortgage rates have eased from recent highs

• Home price growth has slowed down

Together, that’s pulled monthly payments down by hundreds of dollars compared to just a few months ago.

 

Buying still takes planning and smart budgeting, but the numbers are shifting in favor of buyers again — and that’s something we haven’t been able to say for a while.

3. “Should I wait for prices to come down?”

If you’re waiting for a “housing crash,” you’re going to be waiting a long time.

More inventory has helped cool prices, but we’re nowhere near the levels needed for a major drop. On top of that, homeowners today have record levels of equity and far stronger financial footing than the 2008 era.

Yes, price trends vary by area. Some markets are still rising, others are flattening, and a few high-growth areas are giving back a little — emphasis on little.

But nationally?
Fannie Mae’s panel of 100+ economists and housing experts expects prices to keep rising, just at a normal, manageable pace.

 

Trying to “time” the market rarely works.
Getting into the market — and letting time do the work — is what builds wealth.

Bottom Line

The conversations may get noisy, but the data is clear. Inventory is up, affordability is improving, and experts say home prices will continue rising at a healthier pace.

If you’re thinking about making a move, talk to a local agent who can walk you through what’s happening in your specific market — not just what’s floating around the group chat.