That’s the truth in this confused real estate market. It seems you open the paper every week and economists deliver alternating stories of doom or new growth. Buyers are left wondering: am I buying a bargain this week, will values drop next week, or should I jump on the ladder before prices run away?
Vendors face their own turbulence: not knowing if their home is worth what they thought it was one, three, or five years ago, plus the stress of “should I wait until the market improves?” No one knows when that will be.
There is one thing we know to be true: in this market, good quality homes sell for fair prices.
It’s a big shift from 2021, when a house that hadn’t been maintained for 10 years, had a leaking roof, a broken vacuum in the marketing photos, and a curious smell from the basement, still sold for half a million over expectation. That era is gone.
Buyers are conditioned to pay more as prices rise – they’ve been doing this for decades. But the idea that prices might come down is foreign to many, and we need to become more comfortable with it. If you purchased a home pre‑2019, chances are you’re in the green when you go to sell. If you buy a below average home in 2026, don't punt on capital growth.
The real risk here is buyers losing perspective by focussing on bargain hunting. As Henry Barfoot, director of Barfoot & Thompson, said to me last week: “Want a bargain, buy a problem.” Quality is key. Ive heard of too many buyers missing excellent homes because they didnt feel it was a 'deal' - they genuinely thought they'd overpay when all factors tell us this is a great buyers' market. The result is frustration and disappointment, and ironically buying a dud later on for a 'steal.'
Beautifully presented, warm and dry, considerately priced, and well‑marketed homes are still popular, and the market has never been better for buying quality homes. The future is unknown, so buyers should jump at the good opportunities.
The goal isn’t to miss great opportunities because you were convinced a ‘bargain’ was out there. It’s to buy the home you’ll still be glad you bought in five years.
As economists debate whether prices will rise or fall, one thing remains true: well-presented, well-priced quality homes are still selling, and buyers waiting for the perfect deal risk missing the right home entirely.
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