10/12/2026
Housing Data Gives Buyers More Leverage
Recent housing data is giving buyers more room to negotiate—a trend I’m watching closely here in Lake Tahoe. In late Q3, about 21% of active listings had price reductions, and inventory climbed to over 1.16 million homes, now just 9% below typical pre-pandemic levels. Buyer activity remained cautious, with homes under contract declining about 4% year over year for the second month in a row, a reflection of how higher mortgage costs are impacting affordability across the country. The national median list price was around $419,000, down about 1% both month-over-month and year-over-year, marking nearly a year of annual declines. Price per square foot also dropped about 2% from last year. Sellers are still active—about 6% of listings were delisted, which is steady compared to last year, but more are adjusting prices to invite negotiation. The next big question is whether these price cuts will translate into more contracts, or if we’ll see the adjustment period continue as supply grows and demand softens. As always, my approach is rooted in guiding clients through shifts like these with careful market insight and a focus on their unique needs.
