The Market Isn't Broken — It's Rebalancing (And That's Good News)

If you've watched the headlines lately, you'd think real estate hit a wall. Mortgage rates climbed back above 7% this fall, and the Fed raised rates in September for the first time since 2023. That's real, and I won't pretend otherwise.

But after 30+ years in this business, I've learned the headlines rarely tell the whole story. Here's what I'm actually seeing right now:

Buyers finally have choices. More homes are on the market, and they're sitting a little longer. That means fewer bidding wars, real room to negotiate, and sellers willing to help with closing costs, repairs, or rate buydowns. For years buyers had zero leverage. That's changed.

Home values are holding steady. Prices nationally are up about 2% over the past year. That's not a bubble and it's not a crash. It's healthy, sustainable growth, and if you own a home, your equity is intact.

The economy underneath is solid. The job market is cooling gradually, not collapsing. That's the kind of foundation that supports housing even when rates are high.

Fall is a smart time to buy. Fewer competing buyers, motivated sellers, and builders offering incentives make the next few months one of the better windows of the year.

The Triangle remains one of the strongest markets in the country. Raleigh was named one of NAR's Housing Hot Spots for 2026, driven by job growth, rising incomes, and people moving here from all over, including families relocating closer to aging parents and retirees coming back up from Florida. Demand here isn't going anywhere.

My take: You don't win in real estate by waiting for the "perfect" market. You win by understanding the one you're in. Right now, that market rewards buyers who are prepared and sellers who price realistically. And if rates ease, the buyers who acted now can refinance; the ones who waited will be competing again.

Thinking about buying, selling, or helping a parent make a move? Let's talk strategy, not headlines.

— Scot Aubinoe, Street Smart