#equity – Make Your Move with Mari

What to Expect in Second Half of 2026

Here are some encouraging signs.

If you’ve had moving on your mind during the first half of the year, you may be feeling stuck. (BTW…you’re not the only one.)

Mortgage rates stayed higher than people wanted. Affordability remained tight. And uncertainty overseas added another layer of pressure nobody saw coming.

So the question is: Will the second half of the year be any better for the housing market?

While no one can say for sure, there are a few encouraging signs that the market could start moving in a better direction. Here’s what to watch.

Mortgage Rates Could Be Near a Turning Point

One of the biggest reasons mortgage rates haven’t come down yet is inflation. And higher energy prices and uncertainty overseas are at least part of the reason inflation is still elevated. The encouraging news?

Oil prices seem to be coming back down. What does that have to do with buying a home? It’s because historically, mortgage rates and oil prices tend to move in the same direction.

Take a look at the graph below. Generally, they rise and fall together. Both went up in February when the conflict with Iran began. While there’s still been some volatility, experts at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) say oil prices are forecast to come down. And since oil prices have been on an overall downward trend lately, mortgage rates could come down too:

a graph showing the price of a mortgage rate

It’s too soon to say exactly when that will happen (or by how much they’ll fall), but if energy prices go down, inflation cools off, and tensions overseas ease, mortgage rates could come down in the second half of the year.

And that’s good news for anyone thinking about moving. The first half of the year tested everyone’s patience. The second half may finally reward it.

Home Prices Could Pick Back Up

A lot of people want home prices to fall, too. But that’s not what most forecasts show.

While price trends are going to vary by area, and some places are seeing mild declines, experts still expect home prices to net positive this year at the national level.

In fact, they’re projecting prices will rise by an average of 2.3% in 2026 (see graph below):

What does that mean for you? Right now, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) data shows prices are up about 1.7% nationally year-over-year. The average forecast for all of 2026? 2.3%.

Based on those projections, home price growth would have to pick up a bit during the second half of the year. Nothing dramatic, just enough to finish the year around that projected 2.3% gain.

Here’s why that’s possible.

The number of homes for sale has grown, but that growth may be starting to slow down. And if rates improve, more buyers could jump back into the market. More buyers competing could put modest upward pressure on prices, especially if inventory’s not growing as fast.

That’s why buyers shouldn’t assume waiting will guarantee a lower price later. (It never really does.) For sellers, that’s great news if you’ve been worried about your home’s value.

More Homes Are Expected To Sell

If you’ve been wondering why the housing market has felt quieter lately, you’re not imagining it. Home sales have been slower than many experts expected. But that doesn’t mean people have stopped wanting to move.

In fact, for the first half of the year Today Real Estate has exceeded expectations for successful transactions!

We’ve been able to help our clients close on 15 properties during the first half of the year. It is said that the average, active Cape Cod realtor has three successful transactions over the course of a year!

Bottom Line

A lot of people still want or need to make a change. They’ve just been waiting for more certainty, better affordability, or a clearer read on where the market is headed. And early signs show that may be on the horizon.

Mortgage rates may ease. Home sales could pick up. And prices are expected to continue rising at a healthier, more sustainable pace. If you’ve been waiting for signs of progress, this is it.

If you want to understand what these forecasts mean for your plans and what’s happening on Cape, let’s connect. You can always find us 508-388-1994 (Mari and Hank) or 781-264-5517.

We’re ready to help.

Mari, Hank, and Colleen

Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision.

What’s the Value of Your Home?

In today’s economy, you should understand what your biggest asset is really worth. It could be life changing.

When was the last time you checked on the value of your home?

If it’s been more than a year, then it’s time to find out.

Most homeowners know they’ve built up significant equity in their homes, but they don’t know how much it is exactly – especially if they’ve lived in the house for a while.

If you’ve been in your home for 10, 20, or 30 years, wouldn’t you want to know if you’re sitting on $300-400k in potential equity right now?

We know that sounds hard to believe, so we put together this chart so you can see the math:

In today’s economy, you should understand what your biggest asset is really worth. It could be life changing.

So, if you want to know the current value of your home, please let us know and we’ll send you a current assessment. You can always find us at 508-388-1994 or msennott@todayrealestate.com.

You may be surprised at what your home is really worth.

Mari and Hank

Maybe You Can Help Your Kids with Their First Home

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve built up a lot of wealth – just by living in your house and watching its value grow over time. And that equity? It’s something that could help change your child’s life.

Since affordability is still a challenge, a lot of first-time buyers are struggling to buy a home in today’s market. Even if they have a stable job and a solid plan, buying can still feel out of reach. But that’s where your equity could make all the difference.

To give you an idea, the average homeowner with a mortgage has $311,000 worth of equity, according to Cotality (formerly CoreLogic). That’s significant. And some parents are using a portion of their equity to help their children become homeowners, too.

According to Bank of America, 49% of buyers between 18 and 26 got money from their parents to use toward their down payment (see chart below):

Even though the data doesn’t specify how many parents used their equity, the wealth they’ve built through homeownership may have helped make it possible – especially given how much equity the average homeowner has today.

While what’s right for each person’s specific situation will vary on a case-by-case basis, that’s a powerful legacy to pass on. It helps those younger people buy a home, build equity of their own, and begin the next chapter of their life with a little less financial stress and a lot more stability. And for those parents? It’s a way to turn what they’ve built into something deeply meaningful.

This isn’t just about money. For many homeowners, it’s about being the reason their child gets to say, “we got the house.” And giving them the kind of head start they might’ve only dreamed of at their age. And here’s the part that really sticks. Compare the Market says:

“Of those who did receive monetary aid from parents and grandparents to buy a house, 45% of Americans said they would not have been able to purchase a house without financial support from parents and grandparents.”

Bottom Line

Your equity could be the thing that makes homeownership possible for your children when they might not be able to do it on their own. So, here’s the question.

If helping your kids buy a home was more feasible than you thought, would you want to explore that option?

If you want to learn more or find out the best way to make it happen, talk to your lender and a financial advisor you trust.

If you’re not working with a lender, we can recommend several who we have worked with over the years and trust. Let us know if we can help.

Mari and Hank

The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision.