We've been seeing a noticeable shift in home prices across major metros lately. In Mid-Q3, the price per square foot dropped year-over-year in 36 out of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, signaling a broader cooling trend in the housing market. Nationwide, prices per square foot dipped by about 2% compared to last year—making this the 10th consecutive month we've seen this softening. Toward the end of Mid-Q3, the market lost some of its momentum, and I noticed more sellers adjusting their asking prices to better align with what buyers are willing to pay, especially with high mortgage rates putting pressure on affordability. Many markets that saw huge gains during the pandemic are now giving back some of those increases, a trend supported by inventory levels that are higher than before the pandemic. Having spent decades running my own business and now calling Northern Arizona home for over 30 years, I’m dedicated to helping clients navigate these shifting conditions with confidence and clarity. To me, it’s all about making the experience as smooth as possible—and building lifelong friendships along the way.

Lately, I’ve been hearing from both buyers and sellers about why things feel so stuck in our local housing market. With higher mortgage rates, buyers are finding that monthly payments just don’t make as much sense, so many are choosing to hold off. We’re also seeing pending sales slow down—fewer folks are making that jump from looking to actually making an offer. On the other side, a lot of homeowners are sitting tight, holding onto their lower-rate mortgages and not wanting to give up a good thing. This creates a real standstill: buyers are searching for more affordable payments, while sellers are reluctant to let go of those great rates. As someone who’s been part of this community for decades, I see how these decisions are shaping our market and the pace of transactions right now. Whether you’re navigating these challenges or just keeping an eye on the trends, I’m here in your corner—helping make sense of it all, one step at a time.

As someone who’s spent decades helping folks navigate the ups and downs of Arizona real estate, I keep a close eye on the real numbers that matter most to buyers and sellers. In Q2 2026, US home prices kept rising on paper, but a key federal index actually stayed flat from mid- to late quarter—even after adjusting for seasonal trends. Nationally, home values appreciated at about 1.5% year-over-year in late Q2, up from around 1% earlier in the quarter, but that’s still trailing inflation, which hovered near 3.5%. That means, for the 13th month in a row, real home values (after inflation) actually slipped, although the pace of that decline eased as inflation cooled and nominal prices held firmer. Since early 2012, one federal measure has recorded positive yearly growth every quarter, so while prices keep climbing, their true buying power isn’t keeping pace. As we move into the second half of the year, affordability remains front and center—especially since typical monthly payments on existing single-family homes have gone up again, putting even more pressure on first-time buyers. Having been through many market cycles, I know how important it is to have someone by your side who understands what these shifts really mean for your next move.