10/14/2026
In a recent interview, Logan Mohtashami, Chief Economist at HousingWire, shared that new home sales are at an 8-month high and running around 2019 levels. Meanwhile, existing home sales are about 1 million short of where they were in 2019.
A lot of that comes down to incentives. Builders know buyers are focused on the monthly payment, and many are offering reduced rates to make the numbers work.
That changes the conversation with your sellers. They aren't just competing with other listings. In a lot of markets, they're competing with new construction too. But a rate buydown isn't the only lever. Price, closing cost help, repairs, and highlighting what makes their home and neighborhood different can all make a real difference to buyers.