We hope everyone had a lovely holiday season and that 2026 is off to a great start! Steve got to mark off a bucket list item and enjoyed a cruise through the Panama Canal, and I enjoyed family in town, with my niece visiting for a month.
The real estate market is easing into 2026, but I think overall, we are off to a decent start. Inventory levels have come down in both NW Seattle and SW Snohomish County. The decrease in new listings during Christmas and New Year has aided in older listings going under contract. We are just now starting to see a surge in new listings. Each week as we move into 2026, new listings will increase. In the past week we’ve seen an increase in the number of new listings with review dates. At this point, we are most likely to recommend review dates on traditional single-family homes.
Interest rates ended the year under 6%, which is great to see! This should entice more Buyers off the fence and back into the market. There is some near-term anticipation that interest rates may trend upward because of Trump’s criminal investigation threats on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, causing a concern that the Fed may become less independent in the future.
If you’ve been considering selling but are unsure how broader events might affect your home’s value, now’s a great time to get clarity. Contact us for a personalized market analysis and expert guidance on timing your move—so you can make confident decisions in any market.
And as always, if you have any additional real estate questions, feel free to call/text us any time! We’re always here to help!
STEVE HILL
Broker | REALTOR®
CELL 206-769-9577
SANDRA BRENNER
Managing Broker | REALTOR® | MCNE | SRS | CRS®
CELL 206-271-7100
WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE / NORTHWEST
311 N 85th St
Seattle, WA 98103
brennerhill.com
Equal Housing Opportunity