After several years of intense competition, limited inventory, and rising prices, the U.S. housing market is entering a new phase—one where buyers are beginning to regain leverage. While conditions still vary significantly by region, recent data points to a clear trend: heading into 2026, power is shifting away from sellers in many markets and back toward buyers who are patient, informed, and strategic.
This shift does not signal a return to pre-pandemic norms, but it does mark a meaningful reb