Now that the market is slowing down, more homeowners who haven’t sold at the price they were hoping for are pulling their homes off the market. According to Realtor.com, the number of homeowners taking their homes off the market is up 38% since the start of the year and 48% since last June. For every 100 new listings in June, about 21 homes were withdrawn.
If you’ve made that same choice, it’s understandable. It’s hard when the market feels like it’s working against you. But here’s what history proves: housing slowdowns never last forever.
History Repeats Itself: Proof from the Past
This isn’t the first time the housing market has experienced a slowdown. And every time, it has eventually rebounded:
- 1980s: Mortgage rates climbed past 18%, and sales slowed for years. But when rates came down, sales surged.
- 2008: The Great Financial Crisis caused one of the toughest downturns in history. Yet, once the economy recovered, sales and prices rebounded.
- 2020: During COVID, home sales vanished almost overnight. But as restrictions lifted, the housing market came roaring back faster than anyone expected.
👉 The lesson: no matter the cause, the market has always found its footing again.
Today’s Market: Where We Stand
In recent years, affordability challenges have slowed the market. Mortgage rates spiked in 2022, while home prices kept rising. That combination put homeownership out of reach for many buyers, reducing demand and slowing sales.
But this slowdown is temporary, just like the ones before.
The Outlook: Why Experts See Improvement
Forecasts show sales are expected to pick up again heading into 2026.
- Last year, about 4 million homes sold (shown in gray in the graph below).
- This year is tracking about the same (shown in blue).
- But experts from Fannie Mae, MBA, and NAR project sales to rise to around 4.6 million in 2026 (shown in green).
The biggest reason? Mortgage rates are expected to come down, which will boost affordability and bring buyers back into the market.
(Insert graph of sales forecast here)
What That Means for You
If you’ve hit pause on selling, your decision made sense for right now. But it’s also important to remember: housing slowdowns always end.
Your local real estate agent is key. They’ll help you watch the market closely, so you’ll know the right time to relist or make your move.
Bottom Line
If today’s housing market feels stuck, remember: it has never stayed down for good. Every slowdown is followed by renewed activity, and this one will be no different.
➡️ Let’s connect today so you’re ready when the rebound begins. Don’t miss the next wave of buyers.
