The Best Time to Buy a Home in 2026

From September 27 to October 3, buyers were expected to see the strongest national mix of inventory, softer pricing, lighter competition, and slower market speed.
During that window, active listings could reach ↑31.9% versus the year's start and ↑13.3% versus the avg. week, expanding choice nationwide for buyers.
Listing prices were projected 3.5% below their seasonal peak, translating to ~$14K in possible savings on a median-priced US home near $416K.
Competition was historically ↓30.1% from its annual peak, while homes were expected to spend ~64 days on market, giving buyers more time.
The backdrop favored buyers: listings kept growing yearly, demand softened, and experts said earlier fall may widen choice while later fall may improve price flexibility.