Jen HoldenLicense ID:639966- +1(443) 803-7620 jen@thejenholdengroup.com
Fall 2026 Edition
Buying or Selling a Home This Fall? Start with Our Free Fall 2026 eGuides
A fall move comes with a different pace. Buyers have more homes to consider and more room to negotiate. Sellers can still do well when the price, presentation, and terms fit today’s market. Our free Fall 2026 eGuides explain what is changing and how to plan your next step in Greater Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
Grab the Guides
Whether you are buying, selling, or trying to line up both moves, these guides give you a clear look at the fall market and the decisions ahead.
Things to Consider When Buying a Home (Fall 2026)
This guide covers the market outlook, mortgage payments, growing inventory, negotiation opportunities, and the choices buyers are facing this fall.
- Market outlook: why experts expect mortgage rates to stay near the mid-6% range while home prices continue to grow at a moderate pace.
- Monthly payment: how a change in rate can affect principal and interest at several loan amounts.
- More options: how rising inventory gives buyers more time, choice, and room to negotiate.
- Concessions and incentives: what sellers and builders may offer to help make a purchase work.
- Where deals may be hiding: why a home that has been sitting could deserve a closer look.
- Buyer safeguards: when to get pre-approved, how to set a comfortable budget, and what financial moves to avoid after applying for a mortgage.
Things to Consider When Selling Your House (Fall 2026)
This guide is for homeowners who want to understand what helps a home sell now, how equity can shape the next move, and where an experienced agent makes a difference.
- Pricing and presentation: why well-positioned homes can still sell quickly, even as buyers gain more choices.
- Negotiation: how repairs, credits, and closing-cost help can keep a serious buyer moving forward.
- Timing: what today’s typical days-to-pending and listing-to-closing timelines look like.
- Equity: how years of appreciation and mortgage payments may help fund a larger down payment or an all-cash purchase.
- Pre-listing checklist: simple ways to make a home feel cared for, inviting, and ready for the market.
- Professional guidance: how local pricing, marketing, contract, and negotiation experience support a stronger sale.
Fall 2026 Snapshot
National data points to a slower, more balanced fall market. Buyers have more breathing room, while sellers need a sharper plan around price, condition, and terms. Local results still vary by neighborhood and price point.
Mid-6% Range
Current forecasts call for mortgage rates to stay fairly steady through at least mid-2027.
+2.1%
Average national home-price growth forecast for 2026 across the experts cited in the guides.
1,126,252
Active listings nationally in July 2026, the highest July level in five years.
46%
Of homeowners who sold in May made a concession to the buyer.
63%
Of builders offered buyer incentives in August, according to the guide.
57 Days
The national median time from listing to closing in July 2026.
19 Days
The typical time for a home to go pending, with some homes doing so in about a week.
67%
Of sellers paid some or all of the buyer’s closing costs in the latest Zillow data cited.
Local note: These figures come from the national sources cited in the Fall 2026 guides. Greater Annapolis and Anne Arundel County can move differently. Neighborhood, price point, condition, and timing all shape the right strategy.
What Fall 2026 Means Right Now
More choices can create better openings
- Plan around the payment: compare loan structures and rate scenarios with a trusted lender.
- Get pre-approved early: you will know your comfortable range before the right home appears.
- Broaden the search: compare resale homes, new construction, and listings that have spent more time on the market.
- Ask thoughtful questions: price, repairs, closing-cost help, and rate buydowns may all be part of the conversation.
- Keep your finances steady: speak with your lender before opening credit, moving money, or making a large purchase.
Serious buyers are still looking
- Start with the right price: buyers are comparing closely, and the first days on the market matter.
- Make the home easy to choose: light, cleaning, repairs, curb appeal, and clear room purpose help buyers picture the move.
- Stay open during negotiations: the right concession may protect the larger goal and keep the sale together.
- Know the timeline: a typical sale can take several weeks from launch to closing, even if an offer comes in sooner.
- Look at your equity: the value in your current home may make the next purchase more workable than it first appears.
Quick Start Roadmaps
Here is a practical starting point if a move is on your radar this fall.
From browsing to getting serious
- Start with your monthly comfort zone: include principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance.
- Talk to a lender: compare loan types, terms, and rate scenarios before setting the search range.
- Get pre-approved before touring heavily: it gives you a clearer budget and a stronger position.
- Build your search list: decide what is required, what is flexible, and where you have room to compromise.
- Compare the full field: include resale, new construction, and longer-standing listings when they fit your goals.
- Build the offer around the home: use its condition, market time, competition, and comparable sales to guide price and terms.
How to list with less guesswork
- Start with a local pricing review: look at current competition and recent sales through the eyes of today’s buyers.
- Walk through your home like a buyer: look for clutter, scuffs, dated fixtures, tired paint, landscaping gaps, and small repairs.
- Choose prep that fits the property: focus the time and budget on changes buyers will notice.
- Launch with strong marketing: photos, copy, exposure, and positioning matter more when buyers have choices.
- Review offers as a whole: price, contingencies, financing, timing, and requested help all affect the strength of a contract.
- Map the next move: estimate your equity and net proceeds before deciding how the purchase and sale should line up.
FAQ
Are these guides only for people ready to move right now?
No. They are useful whether you want to move this fall, are looking ahead to 2027, or simply want a clearer sense of your options.
Should buyers wait for mortgage rates to fall?
The guide’s expert forecasts call for rates to remain near the mid-6% range, with some movement along the way. A useful first step is to compare real payment scenarios with a lender and decide what works for your budget.
Does more inventory mean sellers are in trouble?
More inventory gives buyers more choices, so price and presentation carry more weight. Well-positioned homes are still going under contract quickly in many markets.
Can buyers ask for concessions this fall?
They can. The outcome depends on the home and the competition, but seller credits, repairs, closing-cost help, and rate buydowns are showing up more often in today’s negotiations.
Should sellers make upgrades before listing?
The answer depends on the home. Cleaning, minor repairs, fresh paint, lighting, and curb appeal often matter more than a large project. A pre-listing walk-through can help sort out what is worth doing.
Can you help me understand my home's equity?
Yes. We can estimate your current value, loan balance, selling costs, and likely net proceeds so you can see how much equity may be available for your next move.
What areas do you serve?
Greater Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Central Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, including Severna Park, Arnold, Millersville, Crownsville, Pasadena, Eastport, and nearby communities.
Want a personalized Fall 2026 plan?
Tell us whether you are buying, selling, doing both, or still exploring. We will help you sort through the numbers, timing, and local market so the plan fits your life.
Jen Holden, Realtor® | Principal, The Jen Holden Group of Compass
443.803.7620 (m) | 410.429.7425 (o) | www.movewithjhg.com