SPOKANE, Wash. — Financial experts are encouraging prospective home buyers to consider making their move in 2026, citing improved market conditions after years of challenging conditions.
Jon Maroni with Numerica Credit Union says the housing landscape is shifting in favor of buyers.
“More people can probably become homeowners in 2026 than in the last couple of years,” Maroni said.
The change represents a significant shift from recent market conditions that heavily favored sellers.
“It’s been such a sellers market for so long that a lot of buyers are going to feel like that’s a pretty big relief,” Maroni said.
For first-time buyers, Maroni recommends strengthening financial positions before purchasing.
“Now’s a perfect time to do that, whether it’s paying down some high interest debt, maybe taking care of some debt that’s been lingering for a little while that you need to take care of and then also being able to save aggressively for that down payment, as much as you can,” he said.
Winter months may present additional opportunities as fewer buyers compete for available properties.
Maroni also suggests exploring assumable mortgages, which allow buyers to take over the seller’s existing mortgage terms, including potentially lower interest rates.
“Maybe they’re buying a home for lets say 300,000 bucks, hey if 150 of that can be an assumable mortgage at 3.25 and then the rest is at current rates, hey that’s a really good deal for you,” Maroni explained.
Experts say the combination of shifting market dynamics and strategic preparation could make 2026 a turning point for buyers who have been waiting for better conditions.
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