When the Market Hits Pause: What It Means for You

The housing market has slowed its roll, and a lot of homeowners are hitting the brakes too. In fact, Realtor.com says more people are yanking their homes off the market — up 38% since January and 48% since last June. For every 100 new listings in June, about 21 homes said, “Nope, not today,” and pulled the plug.

And if you’ve done the same, you’re probably feeling a little bummed. Totally fair. It stings when the market doesn’t play nice. But here’s the good news: slowdowns don’t last forever.

Déjà Vu: Markets Have Slowed Before (and Bounced Back!)

This isn’t the first time the real estate rollercoaster dipped:

• 1980s: Rates hit a jaw-dropping 18%, buyers ghosted, sales snoozed. Then rates dropped, and suddenly—boom—buyers were back.

• 2008: The Great Financial Crisis hit hard. Prices and sales crashed. But eventually, both made a comeback.

• 2020: COVID hit pause on everything. Sales vanished overnight, then roared back way faster than anyone thought.

The pattern? Every dip eventually flips.

Today’s Plot Twist

The big culprit now? Affordability. Rates skyrocketed in 2022 while home prices climbed, and that one-two punch knocked a lot of buyers out of the game. Fewer buyers = slower sales.

The Forecast: Brighter Skies Ahead

Here’s the encouraging part: experts say sales should climb again by 2026.

• 2023: ~4 million homes sold (gray bar).

• 2024: Looking about the same (blue bar).

• 2026: Forecasts show about 4.6 million homes sold (green bar).

And the reason? Mortgage rates are expected to ease up, letting more buyers jump back in.

So, What Does That Mean for You?

If you’ve hit pause on selling, you made the choice that felt right. But remember: this dip is just another chapter, not the whole story.

That’s where your local real estate agent comes in. They’ll keep watch, spot the early signs of a rebound, and help you relist when the timing’s right.

Bottom Line

The market’s not stuck forever—it’s just catching its breath. History says rebounds always come, and when they do, you’ll want to be ready.

👉 So the question is: will you be ready to ride the next wave of buyers, or do you need to make a move sooner?