With the market cooling off, more homeowners who didn’t get the price they wanted are choosing to take their homes off the market. The latest data from Realtor.com shows that since the beginning of this year, the number of homes being pulled off the market has jumped 38%, and it's up 48% compared to last June. In June alone, for every 100 new listings, about 21 homes were taken off the market.

If you’ve found yourself in that situation, you’re likely feeling frustrated that things didn’t turn out the way you hoped. It’s tough when it seems like the market isn’t on your side. But even though slow periods can be frustrating, history shows us they don’t last forever.

History Repeats Itself: Proof from the Past

The housing market has slowed down before. Let’s take a look at some other times when home sales took a noticeable dip:

• Back in the 1980s, Mortgage rates shot up past 18%, and buyers pretty much hit the brakes. Home sales barely moved for several years. But once rates dropped, sales picked up quickly, and the market bounced back.

• Back in 2008, the Great Financial Crisis hit the housing market really hard, causing a sharp drop in both home sales and prices. But once the economy started to bounce back, home sales picked up again.

• Back in 2020, when COVID hit, home sales just stopped suddenly, and a lot of people had to pause their plans. But the bounce back happened quicker than anyone thought, with lots of buyers jumping back into the market as soon as the restrictions lifted.

The takeaway is simple: whatever the reason for the downturn, the market always bounces back.

Today’s Situation: Where We Stand Now

Home sales have been slow over the last few years, and a major reason is affordability. In 2022, mortgage rates jumped faster than ever, while home prices kept going up. This made it tough for many buyers to afford a home. And when fewer people want to buy, home sales naturally drop as well.

The Outlook: Why Things Will Improve

Here’s the good news: sales are expected to start picking up again as we head into 2026.

Last year, around 4 million homes were sold, which you can see in gray on the graph below. This year looks pretty similar, shown in blue. But if you look ahead to 2026, experts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are forecasting about 4.6 million home sales, represented in green.

A major part of that forecast is the belief that mortgage rates will drop slightly, which will make it easier for more buyers to get back into the market.

What’s going on right now is just part of a pattern we’ve seen before. Every time the market slows down, it eventually picks back up, and this time won’t be any different.

Just like what we saw back in the 1980s, 2008, and 2020, the recent drop in home sales is only temporary.

What That Means for You

If you’ve put your moving plans on hold, you made the decision that felt right for you. It’s completely normal to feel frustrated. Just keep in mind that housing slowdowns are temporary and won’t last forever.

This is where a local real estate agent really helps out. They watch the market closely on your behalf. As soon as they notice the market starting to pick up again, they’ll guide you in spotting those changes early, so you can confidently put your home back on the market.

Bottom Line

If the housing market feels a bit stuck right now, keep in mind it doesn’t stay that way forever. Slow periods always come to an end, activity picks up, and buyers start moving again. Let’s stay in touch so when the next surge of buyers arrives, you’re ready to jump in.

With the market getting busier, are you ready to list your house again, or do you need to move sooner than expected?