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Will Buyers Come Out of Hibernation This Spring?

  • Mar 11
  • 1 min read

Market Perspective: Fast Facts About the Housing Market. Will Buyers Come Out of Hibernation This Spring?

Spring 2026 is shaping up to be the best time to buy a home in years.


Housing affordability is at its best level in 4 years1 • Fueled by lower rates, wage gains, easing home-price growth2 National Payment-to-Income Ratio*1 • 30-year fixed rates dropped to a 4-year low in February, hovering around 6%1 • Annual price growth cooled to +0.4% in February1 o Up +0.13% MoM, the largest monthly gain in a year and a possible early sign of renewed momentum Buyer activity is ramping up • Pending-home sales rose 4.2% YoY in February3 o Largest annual increase since November 2024 (+8% YoY) New listings are climbing • Newly listed homes +10% MoM in February3 (+2.4% YoY) • Median listing price ($403,450) down 2.1% YoY3 Inventory is growing, but supply is still recovering • Active listings up 7.9% YoY3 o The 28th straight monthly gain • Inventory remains 16.8% below pre-pandemic norms, with the Northeast and Midwest facing the largest gaps. 3

Should buyers watch rates?

After mortgage rates dropped to a 4-year low in February, recent geopolitical events have caused some movement. Rates are sensitive to market volatility, and they can shift from day to day. The good news is, rates remain well below the levels seen last spring — meaning stronger purchasing power for many buyers.

 

Bottom line: Don’t let headline noise detract from the bigger picture. With softer prices, more listings, and lower rates than last year, this spring remains a promising time for buyers.



Sources:

  1. ICE Mortgage Monitor, March 2026.
  2. National Association of Realtors®, “NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows 8.4% Decrease in January,” February 12, 2026.
  3. Realtor.com, “February 2026 Monthly Housing Report: Inventory Rises as Prices Edge Down,” March 5, 2026.

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