Two Big Reasons To Move This Summer

A lot of people who want to move may be telling themselves the same thing: "Maybe I'll just wait until later this year once things calm down."

While waiting sounds like a good plan, there's something worth knowing before you decide. Interest rate and market conditions can change over time, and delaying a move may not always provide the advantages some buyers or sellers expect.

Rates aren’t expected to change much, so if that’s the #1 reason you’re waiting, it may not pay off. And there may be other things you miss out on in the meantime.

Historically, summer may be one of the strongest seasons of the year for both buyers and sellers. And if you delay your move until Fall or Winter, some of those opportunities may already be fading.

Buyers: Fresh Inventory Is Your Real Summer Advantage

One of the biggest frustrations buyers may have faced over the past few years has been a lack of affordable options. Maybe you’ve run into that yourself:

• You find a house you like, but it's out of your budget.
• You find something in your budget, but you don’t like it.
• Or worse, nothing interesting hits the market for weeks.

Historically, Summer could help with that.

Looking at data from the last few years, Summer months consistently bring more sellers into the market than later in the year. And that gives buyers a real window of fresh choices.

According to Realtor.com, any given Summer month typically sees about 32% more fresh options than the average month from September-December.

Source: Realtor .com, Residential Real Estate Data Library, January 2026 Historical market data is provided for informational purposes only. Past performance and historical trends are not indicative of future results. 

With more newly listed homes, there could be a better chance of finding one you like where the numbers actually work.

Because all it could take is one home to completely change your search. And if you’ve got more popping onto the market to choose from, maybe one of those is exactly what you need.

But keep in mind, this seasonal window isn’t open forever. Fresh inventory tends to slow down once Summer ends.

Many homeowners who planned to sell this year may have already listed by then. Families who wanted to move before school starts have often already gotten it done, or at least, set it into motion. So, new listing activity usually cools as we head into Fall and Winter.

Of course, every year is different. But if finding the right home at the right price has been your biggest challenge, historical market data suggests inventory levels may vary throughout the year. Individual market conditions can differ by location and over time.

Sellers: Homes May Sell for More in the Summer

If you're thinking of selling, you may be considering holding off because you've seen headlines about lower asking prices, price cuts, and softer conditions in some markets. But those headlines don’t tell the whole story or convey just how much it varies by area.

Here’s what you really need to know. Even though the market may be becoming more balanced and some pockets are experiencing price declines, that doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance to sell.

Seasonality could still work in your favor no matter where you are. And this Summer could still give you the chance to sell for a good price.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes sold during a Summer month usually sell for about 4% more than homes sold during the typical month from September-December:

Source: National Association of Realtors, Pending Home Sales and Seasonality, March 2026.  Historical market data is provided for informational purposes only. Past performance and historical trends are not indicative of future results.  

Why? Summer buyers could be operating on a set timeframe. They’re trying to move before the next school year or when they have more PTO and warmer weather to tour houses. That urgency could translate into better offers.

Now, that doesn’t mean you should price your house 4% higher this Summer. That could actually be a mistake in today’s market.

It just means if you’re looking to get as much for your house as you reasonably can, a Summer move could be a smarter play than waiting until later this year.

Because based on typical seasonality, you may get more for your house than you would if you waited until the Fall or Winter (when there are typically fewer buyers active).

And if you're considering a move anyway, that may be worth factoring in.

Bottom Line

Could waiting until later this year work out? Possibly. But it's important to understand what you may gain by moving now too – that way you have the full picture before you decide.

If a 2026 move is on your radar, connect with a First Federal Bank Loan Officer to talk about what matters most to you. Depending on your priorities, Summer could be your moment.