You may be telling yourself you’re going to wait to make a move. Maybe you’re hoping mortgage rates will come down, home prices will drop, or the market will start to feel a little less overwhelming.
And a lot of people feel that way right now. But here’s what some are starting to realize.
Waiting usually doesn’t solve the reason you wanted to move in the first place.
Your family may still need more space. And that empty nest may still feel a little too empty.
Your parents or grandparents may still need you closer to home.
You just got married or divorced.
You imagine spending your retirement living somewhere else.
Sometimes waiting starts to feel tougher than taking action.
That’s why some people are still choosing to buy right now, even in today’s market. Not because everything is perfect, but because the life changes that pushed them to move remain.
And maybe that’s exactly where you are, too. If that’s the case, you’re definitely not alone.
The Real Reasons People Move
Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show that 1 in 5 buyers last year felt they had to buy a home at that time, regardless of market conditions.
That’s an important reminder right now. Of course, the financial side of a move has to work for you, but big life changes still happen no matter where mortgage rates and home prices are.
And those big life events happen more often than you might think. NAR says about 22.5 million people go through major life changes over a typical two-year period, as shown in the graph below:
These are the kinds of things that can change how much space you need, where you want to live, or what lifestyle makes sense for you now. As Chen Zhao, Head of Economics Research at Redfin, explains:
““Life doesn’t stand still—people get new jobs, grow their families, downsize after retirement, or simply want to live in a different neighborhood.”
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And that’s what makes waiting so tough. Every month you spend hoping the market will change is another month in a home that doesn’t really fit your life anymore. Feeling stuck like that can be stressful, and it usually doesn’t just go away on its own.
There May Be More Opportunity Than You Think
But even though affordability is still a challenge, there may still be a way for you to make your move.
The number of homes for sale has been growing for four straight years, as shown in the graph below. That means more options to choose from and, in some markets, even more room to negotiate than buyers had just a few years ago.
That doesn’t mean moving is suddenly easy, but it does mean some buyers are finding ways to make it work. So if you’ve been putting your plans on hold, maybe the real question isn’t just:
“What’s the market doing?” or “When will it get better?”
Maybe ask yourself this, too: “Can I still live where I'm at right now and make it work?”
If the answer to that second question is “no”, it might be worth talking through what your options look like today, even with where rates and prices are. You may find that your move is still possible after all. With more homes for sale, there’s a better chance of finding one that fits your life and your budget right now.
Bottom Line
Life changes. Priorities shift. Families grow. Kids move out. Careers evolve. And over time, the home you’re in may no longer fit the life you’re living.
If that’s been on your mind lately, it might help to talk through what your options could realistically look like today, no matter where rates or prices are.
Life doesn’t always wait for perfect market conditions, and maybe you don’t have to either.
