The median age of first-time homebuyers hit a record high of 40 last year, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. Low inventory and rising prices have pushed homeownership out of reach for many.
To make housing more affordable, some people are embracing a nontraditional path to owning a home: co-buying with a friend.
Co-buying is a great way for buyers to boost borrowing power, but there are pitfalls. Check out these tips…
A continued rise in inventory, combined with renewed pressure from rising mortgage rates, defined Washington’s housing market in March as listings climbed sharply while sales remained largely unchanged.
Active listings rose 29.3% year over year to 15,049 homes, with nearly every county reporting gains and 20 of 27 counties posting double-digit increases.
Closed sales totaled 5,417 in March, up just 0.2% from a year ago, though activity picked up significantly from February with a nearly 31% month-over-month increase. The median sales price was $640,000, down 1.5% year over year but up 3.2% from February. Total sales volume reached $4.29 billion across residential and condominium transactions.
“Washington continues to mirror national trends by adding listings at a rate that is far outpacing any growth in sales,” said Steven Bourassa, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research. “Active listings in the NWMLS service area in March 2026 increased 29% year over year, while the number of sales remained unchanged. In a nutshell, sellers have decided that they need to get on with their lives in spite of the fact that many would be giving up low-interest-rate mortgages. However, potential purchasers cannot afford to buy.”
Bourassa added that rising global uncertainty—including the recent conflict with Iran—has pushed mortgage rates back up to 6.38% by the end of March after briefly dipping below 6% in February. The last time rates were this high was in early September 2025.
Active Listings
Closed Sales
Median Sales Price
Source: NWMLS 4/2/26
The 2026 Legislative Session has ended, and the Washington REALTOR® advocacy team’s hard work paid off.
Washington REALTORS® successfully advanced key priorities to support housing supply, expand development opportunities, and promote fairness in the marketplace while protecting against harmful tax proposals.
Learn more about the legislation that passed on my website: https://JenniferGilbert-Smith.com/Legislative-Session-Recap
On June 11, 2026, Washington’s Agency Law will be updated to:
“A broker may not market the sale or lease of residential real estate to a limited or exclusive group of prospective buyers or brokers, or any combination thereof, unless the real estate is concurrently marketed to the general public and all other brokers, except as reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant. Marketing to the general public does not require an owner to allow access onto the residential real estate or into the residence.”
In other words, this means that a property needs to be listed in the broker’s MLS before or at the same time that a broker discusses availability of the property with potential buyers or tenants, other brokers or promotes availability of the property in any other way. Beginning June 11, pre-marketing and/or marketing to a limited or exclusive list will be violation of the law, unless the listing is simultaneously marketed to the public and other real estate brokers.
Jennifer Gilbert-Smith has supported the passage of this new legislation and looks forward to the fair housing market this will establish in Washington state. It’s most fair for all buyers to have access to all properties for sale at the same time and be able to contact a licensed real estate broker of their choice.
Therapeutic design principles, as discussed by designers and psychologists in the article, prioritize creating spaces that foster relaxation, safety and emotional well-being. Experts like Rachel Blindauer recommend focusing on soft textures, muted color palettes and the intentional use of asymmetry to avoid rigidity.
Read more…
Existing-home sales increased by 1.7% month-over-month in February, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Existing-Home Sales Report.
Month-over-month sales rose in the Midwest, South and West, and fell in the Northeast. Year-over-year sales rose in the South and fell in the Northeast, Midwest and West.
Affordability improved for the eighth consecutive month, according to NAR’s Housing Affordability Index—increasing to 117.6 in February from 117.1 in January and 103.1 a year ago. This marks the highest level since March 2022.
“Housing affordability is improving, and consumers are responding,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Still, there is a long way to go to return to pre-pandemic levels of transaction activity. There are more than 6 million more jobs than in 2019, yet home sales per year are down by one million.”
“Despite the modest gain in home sales, actual housing demand remains muted relative to wage growth and job gains,” Yun continued. “Wage growth is now outpacing home price growth by almost four percentage points. Mortgage rates are also measurably lower compared to a year ago.”
“Inventory is growing, but sluggishly,” he added. “If demand picks up notably in the coming months and outpaces supply growth, home prices will inevitably rise. That is why increasing supply is so important to help limit home price growth, improve housing affordability, and boost transactions.”
Read more details, including regional data, here…
Source: National Association of REALTORS® 3/10/26
Inventory continued to expand across the region in February, providing buyers with significantly more options than a year ago. Active listings increased nearly 28% year over year to 13,341 properties, with 19 of 27 counties posting double-digit gains. Compared to January, inventory rose 7.8%, signaling continued seller participation heading into the spring market.
Closed sales totaled 4,139 transactions, down 3% from February 2025 but up 19.5% from January. The median sales price for residential homes and condominiums reached $620,000, down 1.6% from last year while rising 4.2% compared to the prior month.
Active Listings
Closed Sales
Median Sales Price
Source: NWMLS 3/4/26
Open shelving remains a popular kitchen design trend in 2026, despite predictions of it falling out of favor. The trend offers affordability and adaptability, making it a practical choice for a range of kitchen layouts. Read more…
A new federal residential real estate rule aimed at cracking down on money laundering went into effect March 1st. It impacts transactions involving buyer entities or trusts where the purchase is not financed, such as all-cash sales and sales involving non-regulated lenders. Here’s what you need to know…
Did you know that 80% of real estate agents burnout in their first two years? From finding suitable properties to pricing them to market demand and listing them, working in real estate is taxing. The constant need for a fresh set of ideas and solutions can be draining.
The lack of routine and a schedule combined with a constant high-pressure state can make even the most optimistic agents feel fatigued. The business is set up so that if you don’t take intentional care of yourself, burnout is almost inevitable. The best way to avoid burnout is to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and your business in a way that’s sustainable and prioritizes your needs.
Managing The Real Estate Details 