Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House?
Key takeaways: If you have the means, now may be a good time to buy a house. It’s a buyer’s market —there are 49% more home sellers than buyers—giving homebuyers leverage. Mortgage rates are elevated and volatile due to the conflict with Iran, and markets expect the Fed to raise rates this year to combat inflation. Consumers are wary due to record-high house prices, a difficult job market, and economic uncertainty. Summer is well underway, but the housing market is still thawing from its winter freeze. After a very slow 2025, the same sluggish trends are persisting well into 2026: few home sales, limited listings, and near-record monthly costs. Adding to the difficulty, mortgage rates remain elevated and volatile due to prolonged conflicts in the Middle East. Even if a long-term peace deal were to be struck, economists don’t expect major improvements until economic pressures ease. Global volatility , AI fears , tariff uncertainty , and a difficult job market are all weighing...