The National Association of Realtors came out swinging, predicting double-digit growth in home sales and 4% price appreciation. They’re confident that home prices nationwide are “in no danger of declining.”

 

Great. Awesome. But let’s be adults here: national headlines don’t always fit what’s happening in Dallas–Fort Worth. We don’t live in “the national market.” We live in a hyper-local one.

 

DFW Never Hit “Stagnant.” Not Even Close

National economists have spent the last few years calling the housing market “stagnant.” Here in DFW? No.

 

We cooled off from the madness of 2020–2021, yes. But in DFW, homes kept selling. Prices held steady. Some cities, such as Plano, Frisco, and McKinney, actually saw pockets of growth this year.

 

Our team just finished one of our strongest quarters in a market many agents call “slow.” Most of that success is a product of our agents’ effort, but it also speaks to the fact that the market isn’t as slow as many people think.

 

Why 2026 Looks Big

NAR’s reasoning is actually pretty logical:

  • Rates have already dropped from their peak.
  • Buyers who froze at 7% rates are thawing out at 6’s.
  • Sellers clinging to their 2.75% loans may finally re-enter the market.

You combine lower rates with pent-up demand, and a busier market is likely to emerge. But more activity also means more competition. And more competition means more people paying more money for the same homes.

 

Which brings us to…

 

Should You Wait for the Boom? Probably Not.

When everyone feels safe, everyone overpays. The added activity and competition lead to higher prices.

If 2026 is the “boom” year, that means:

  • More bidding wars
  • Fewer negotiating wins
  • Higher prices
  • Fewer seller concessions

If you’re buying in the next 12–24 months, beating the crowd is often the smarter financial move. You lock in today’s price, compete with fewer buyers, and refinance later if rates drop again. Easy math.

 

For Sellers: Your Timing Has Nothing to Do With Market Predictions

Look, people don’t move because of a prediction. It’s often more personal than that. They move because of:

  • A growing family
  • A shrinking household
  • A new job
  • A relocation
  • A life transition

Your timing should be driven by your life, not a headline. What affects your net profit far more than the year?

  • Pricing correctly
  • Preparing the home well
  • Marketing strategically
  • Negotiating aggressively
  • Choosing the right advisor

A strong plan always beats waiting for a magic year.

 

How We Build Your Strategy (And Why It Matters)

Here’s how we work backward with our clients. We call it the walkback technique, where we start with the target move date and work back through the timeline and key points of the transaction.

  • Want to move into a new home by May?
  • You don’t start looking in April. You start months earlier:
  • Under contract by mid-March
  • Actively searching in February
  • Pre-approval, finances, repairs, timing NOW

Most people underestimate how long the process takes and how stressful it is to operate on a tight timeline. And they end up stressed, rushed, or settling. You can’t start too early. You absolutely can start too late.

 

Bottom Line

NAR thinks the U.S. will “finally turn the corner” in 2026. Great. DFW never really stopped moving.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, or even just thinking about it, let’s build your plan now. Your corner of the market matters more than the national one, and we’ll walk you through it step-by-step.