Strategic upgrades can attract buyers and strengthen first impressions, from fresh paint and minor updates to newer HVAC systems and better curb appeal.
The Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2026 outlook points to stabilizing home prices and improving sales as the housing market adjusts after rapid growth.
Even without interest rate cuts, mortgage rates can shift with economic outlooks. Lower rates may help buyers, though supply constraints could keep prices elevated.
A new roof can boost curb appeal, buyer confidence and deal certainty. Beyond looks, roof age can influence appraisals, insurance and financing decisions.
Updated TVs, sound systems and lighting can boost an entertainment room’s appeal. Smart upgrades help buyers picture daily living and can strengthen a home’s showing.
By skipping the perfect-home myth, first-time buyers can focus on budget, condition and location, and choose a home and neighborhood that truly fit how they live.
Designers say homeowners who turned walk-in closets into offices may want to restore them before selling, as buyers now prize storage and livability.
At NAR’s annual Policy Forum, policymakers highlighted ideas to boost home sales, including updating capital gains rules and reducing FHA red tape.
Debt-to-income ratio, savings balances and credit scores shape borrowing power, loan terms and readiness to buy a home in today’s market.
Mortgage rates edged higher, with 30-year loans at 6.1% (up from 6.09%) and 15-year rates at 5.49%. Buyers and sellers are watching what comes next.
