Lately this question has been on a lot of homeowners’ minds:
“Is now the right time to sell — or am I better off waiting a year?”
It’s a smart thing to be wondering. The market isn’t as frantic as it was in 2020–2022, interest rates aren’t going down in a straight line, and you’ve probably seen conflicting headlines about what’s coming next.
Let’s walk through it in a real-world way and include some big economic and policy factors that are shaping the market as we head into 2026.
Why This Question Feels Harder Than Usual
Selling a home isn’t just a financial decision; it’s emotional and strategic. Your equity, your next move, your timing — all of it matters.
People are asking:
- Will prices be higher a year from now?
- If mortgage rates drop, will that bring more buyers — or more sellers too?
- Does a “balanced market” mean good things for sellers?
The honest answer is: nobody has a crystal ball. But we do have data, policy, and trends to help you think clearly about the question.
Recent Policy: Trump’s Institutional Investor SFH Purchase Ban
One of the biggest housing news stories in early 2026 was the Trump administration’s announcement that the federal government plans to ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes (SFHs).
Sources:
Reuters: U.S. proposes ban on institutional buying of single-family homes
AP News: Trump housing policy aims to help individual buyers
Here’s what that might mean for you as a potential seller:
- Less Competition from Wall Street Buyers
- More Buying Power for Traditional Buyers
Institutional investors have been buying single-family homes to rent them out. While they still represent a small share of total homes owned, in some markets they were pushing up demand at lower price tiers.
But it doesn’t mean prices rise sharply — just that there’s less artificial demand pushing them up. For most sellers, your most likely buyer was already another individual or family. That hasn’t changed.
So this policy may help the buyer pool be more traditional, but it doesn’t flip the market back into a hot seller’s frenzy. It simply slows one source of competition that wasn’t as strong as headlines made it sound.
What Selling in 2026 Actually Looks Like
Assuming you list this year instead of waiting:
- Home prices nationally are expected to rise, but at a moderate pace instead of dramatic jumps.
Realtor.com forecasts modest price growth in 2026. - Inventory is expected to remain somewhat elevated compared to the low-supply years, meaning buyers have more choices — especially in places that had super tight supply.
- Buyers who are active tend to be serious buyers, especially in markets like NW Indiana, Chicago, Naperville, Wilmette, and Schaumburg.
In short: You’re not selling into a red-hot frenzy … but you’re also not selling into a collapse.
It’s what the industry calls a balanced market — which is good news if you want predictability, not volatility.
What Waiting Until 2027 Could Mean
A lot of sellers think: “If I wait, rates might be lower and prices might be higher.”
That could occur — but there are trade-offs:
Interest Rates
Lower rates can bring more buyers back into the market — which can help your sale.
But they also can bring more sellers listing at the same time, which means more competition.
Inventory Growth
If new listings continue to grow, buyers might have more options — and that can temper price gains.
Cost of Waiting
- You keep paying property taxes
- You keep paying maintenance
- You delay your next life move
These are real costs that you pay while waiting, whereas the “probability of a higher price” in 2027 is just that, a “probability”.
Local Differences Matter More Than National Headlines
Here’s how the picture looks regionally:
NW Indiana (Munster, Dyer, Highland, St. John, Schererville)
Affordable relative to Chicago markets, steady buyer interest, and a balanced supply of buyers and homes.
Chicago Area
More sensitive to interest rate swings and inventory moves — a listing here gets priced and scrutinized fast.
Naperville
Strong school demand and community appeal keep buyer interest high — but buyers watch price and condition closely.
Wilmette
Premium neighborhood demand tends to keep prices firm, but buyers expect condition and location to justify it.
Schaumburg
Value-oriented buyers dominate — so pricing and condition can make or break your momentum.
These local dynamics often outweigh big macro headlines — especially for sellers who position their homes correctly.
A Better Question to Ask Yourself
Instead of: “Will the market be better next year?”
Try this: “Is this the window where selling solves my problem, meets my goals, and keeps more of my equity?”
That’s a practical, actionable question. It’s not about predicting headlines — it’s about personal outcomes.
A Final Practical Thought
Your sale isn’t controlled by one policy, one rate, or one number. It’s controlled by:
- How you price
- How you position
- How you prepare
- How you reach the right buyers
If you’re unsure whether 2026 is the right window for your home, the smartest first step isn’t guessing about 2027 — it’s understanding what your home could sell for right now in today’s market.
No ambiguity. No guessing. Just clarity.
If you want help with that, just contact us. We can walk through it with you.
