What if the biggest real estate trend this fall isn’t about prices… but about choices?
If you’ve been thinking about buying or selling a home, you may have noticed something different lately.
Homes are taking a little longer to sell. Buyers have more properties to choose from. Price reductions are becoming more common. And sellers are having to pay closer attention to what today’s buyers actually want.
So… what does that mean for you?
The short answer: October could be a month worth paying attention to.
First Things First: Buyers Have More Options
For years, buyers have had to move quickly when the right home came along. Today, the national market looks different.
August data from the National Association of REALTORS® showed 1.62 million homes in inventory—up 5.9% from a year earlier—and 4.9 months of supply, the highest level in more than a decade. Existing-home sales, however, were down 1.2% from August 2025.
That combination matters.
More inventory + slower sales = more time for buyers to think.
And that can mean more opportunities to compare homes, consider different neighborhoods, negotiate terms, and decide whether a property truly fits your needs.
In fact, Realtor.com identified the week of September 27–October 3, 2026, as the year's nationally most favorable buying window based on a combination of inventory, prices, competition and seasonal trends.
But here's the important part:
Real estate is local.
What happens nationally doesn't automatically tell us what is happening in Nevada, Lamar, Nevada, El Dorado Springs, Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Neosho, Fort Scott, or the surrounding communities.
That's where having someone who knows the local market can make a difference.
So… Are Home Prices Falling?
Not exactly.
Nationally, the median existing-home price in August was $429,100, up 1.6% from a year earlier. That's the 38th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases, although the pace of appreciation has slowed.
And that's an important distinction.
A market doesn't have to experience a major price drop to become more buyer-friendly.
Sometimes the change looks like:
- More homes available
- More time to make a decision
- More room for negotiation
- More price adjustments
- Sellers becoming more realistic about pricing
Realtor.com reported that 20.4% of listings had a price cut in August, matching the share from August 2025.
For buyers, that can create opportunities.
For sellers, it creates a very clear message:
Pricing your home correctly from the beginning matters.
Mortgage Rates Are Still Part of the Conversation
Of course, we can't talk about real estate in 2026 without talking about mortgage rates.
As of September 24, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.03%,
compared with 6.30% a year earlier.
And here's something we always remind buyers:
Don't shop for a house based only on the price tag. Shop based on the monthly payment that fits your budget.
Your interest rate, down payment, taxes, insurance, loan type and other costs can all affect the monthly number.
That's why getting pre-approved before you fall in love with a house can save you a lot of stress later.
Why October Can Be an Interesting Month for Buyers
There's something about fall that changes the real estate game.
The spring and summer rush begins to cool.
Some buyers have already made their move.
Some sellers who listed earlier in the year are becoming more motivated.
And some homes that have been sitting on the market may become more negotiable.
Realtor.com's 2026 analysis found that early fall typically brings more inventory, slower market pace and more price reductions, giving buyers more opportunity to compare and negotiate.
But don't make the mistake of thinking:
“I'll just wait until prices drop.”
There are no guarantees.
Waiting could mean a lower price on one home—but it could also mean fewer homes to choose from.
The better question is:
“What makes sense for MY situation?”
And What About Sellers?
Here's where the October market gets interesting.
More choices for buyers doesn't mean sellers can't sell.
It means the home needs to give buyers a reason to choose it.
That starts with realistic pricing.
But it doesn't end there.
- Great first impressions matter.
- Quality photos matter.
- A clean, well-presented home matters.
- Addressing obvious maintenance issues can matter.
- Highlighting location and lifestyle matters.
- And pricing competitively matters.
Today's buyer has options.
So sellers need to ask:
“If a buyer sees my home next to five others, why will they choose mine?”
That's the conversation worth having before putting a home on the market.
Let's Make This Personal…
If you could change ONE thing about the real estate market right now, what would it be?
Buyers:
Would you choose lower interest rates or lower home prices?
Sellers:
Would you rather have more buyers or less competition from other homes for sale?
Homeowners:
Are you thinking about making a move in the next 6–12 months?
Tell us in the comments! We’d love to hear what you're seeing and thinking about here in our local communities.
The Bottom Line for October
The 2026 housing market isn't simply a “buyer's market” or a “seller's market.”
It's more nuanced than that.
There are more homes available than we've seen in years. Buyers are gaining more time and negotiating opportunities in many markets. Sellers are facing a greater need to price strategically. And mortgage rates continue to influence what buyers can comfortably afford.
But here's what we believe matters most:
The right move isn't necessarily about trying to perfectly time the market. It's about understanding YOUR market, YOUR finances and YOUR goals.
Whether you're dreaming about your first home, looking for more space, downsizing, relocating, investing, or simply wondering what your current home might be worth…
We're here to help you make sense of it.
After all, real estate isn't just about houses.
It's about people, plans, and what's next.
Thinking about making a move this fall? Let's talk.
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About the Authors
Jennifer Frese & Scott Theis are real estate professionals with Stutesman’s Action Realty, serving Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas for over 34 years.
