Is It a Good Time to Buy a House in 2026?

As of early July 2026, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is sitting around 6.5 percent according to Freddie Mac, down from closer to 6.7 percent a year earlier and holding fairly steady in the mid-6 percent range for several weeks, giving buyers something they haven't had in a while: predictability. Purchase mortgage applications have been running ahead of last year's pace for several months.

Home prices have been easing and inventory improving in many markets, with several straight months of declining home prices alongside rising pending sales, a sign of a healthier, more balanced market. Sellers are pricing homes realistically from the start instead of listing high and cutting later, and buyers are responding with offers, meaning more room to negotiate and less of the frantic bidding-war energy from a few years ago.

Central North Carolina continues to draw buyers relocating from higher cost states, keeping the local market active even as rates hold steady; if you've been waiting on the sidelines for pandemic-era rates, that may be a long wait, and with prices leveling off, waiting could mean paying more for the same home later. Coastal buyers along the Grand Strand and North Myrtle Beach face a different picture: vacation and second-home demand stays strong year round, and well-priced homes with water or golf course views continue to move quickly, though today's more balanced market gives relocating buyers breathing room to actually compare properties. The buyers doing well right now are the ones who get pre-approved, know their real budget, and move when the right home shows up. Reach out and I'd love to walk you through what's happening in your specific target area.