All I want for christmas is....

This time of year always puts me in a reflective mood.
Between the holiday lights, familiar songs, and conversations about wishes for the year ahead, I find myself thinking less about square footage and pricing strategies and more about fairness.

Giving is for the holidays… but right now, in real estate, something needs to give.
The market lately feels like a quiet tug-of-war. Buyers are active watching listings, touring homes, staying engaged, yet fewer homes are actually making it to the finish line. Sellers, instead of feeling excited about listing, are de-listing their homes and deciding to “try again later.”
It’s a seasonal standoff.
Sellers are having a hard time coming to terms with a market that looks different than it did not long ago. Buyers, meanwhile, are watching interest rates and prices closely, hoping that patience will bring affordability back within reach.
Both sides are waiting for the other to blink.
I hear it often: “If I can’t get what I want, I’m not playing.”
And the truth is...it’s happening on both ends.
Across many major U.S. markets, including Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte, listings and transactions are down year over year. Some sellers are holding tight, hoping 2026 brings stronger prices. Buyers are holding out as well, waiting for rates to ease and prices to soften.
Even when homes do go under contract, the process looks very different than it did a few years ago.
It’s not 2020 anymore.
Buyers know they have leverage and are using it asking for more during negotiations. Sellers, already feeling squeezed, are often reluctant to compromise. Instead of meeting in the middle, many simply step back.
The result? More waiting. Fewer deals. And a lot of frustration on both sides.
That’s what brings me back to the holidays.
All I want for Christmas (professionally speaking), is a WIN/WIN.
Not buyers winning at the expense of sellers. Not sellers holding out while buyers stay on the sidelines. But fairness. Understanding. A willingness to meet somewhere in the middle.
Markets move forward when expectations are realistic and conversations stay open. Homes sell when both sides feel respected and heard. And progress happens when compromise replaces the standoff.
As we look ahead to 2026, my hope is simple: more balance, more clarity, and more confidence for both buyers and sellers.
If you’re a seller wondering how to price and position your home in today’s market or a buyer trying to decide whether now or later makes the most sense. I’m always happy to talk it through. Sometimes the best first step isn’t waiting… it’s having an honest, thoughtful conversation.
Wishing you a season filled with hope, perspective, and just enough compromise to make great things happen.

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