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In a recent US poll on best long-term investments, Real Estate led at 38%, ahead of stocks or mutual funds at 20%.
Gold followed at 18%, while savings accounts or CDs drew 12%, bonds 4%, and cryptocurrency 2%, showing Americans still value familiar assets.
Experts said the results reflect trust and familiarity: homes feel stable, and Real Estate is the investment many Americans understand most clearly.
For many households, a home works like a savings tool: mortgage payments build equity over time, while gradual appreciation has supported long-term wealth building.
Experts said long-term investing works best without either-or choices: gold can diversify, while savings accounts and CDs near ~4% mostly keep pace with inflation.

Seller decisions often reflect mortgage rate sensitivity, replacement-home scarcity, and lifestyle priorities, making timing analysis critical before entering the US housing market.
For buyers, tighter listing flow means preparation matters: secure financing early, broaden criteria, and stay ready when well-matched homes appear in active searches.
Sellers weighing a move can emphasize upgrades, energy-efficient systems, home-office space, inspections, concessions, or lease-back options to reduce transition friction for buyers and themselves.
Real Estate professionals can support cautious optimism with conservative pricing, buyer-focused concessions, and pre-listing preparation helping transactions feel clearer when choices are limited.
A more balanced US market depends on rate stability, added construction, economic confidence, and policy support that encourages homeowners to list again.

Across the US, pending home sales edged ↑<1% MoM in the current month, while contract signings remained ↓~5% yearly, showing modest momentum but softer demand.
Buyers entering contracts even as mortgage rates increased, but higher borrowing costs offset buying power created by gains and income growth outpacing home prices.
Pending home sales based on signed purchase contracts for listed homes offer an early read on housing direction before transactions close and sales are recorded.
A mortgage survey put the current 30-yr fixed rate near 7%, slightly above the mid-6% level seen yearly, even after earlier lows.
Current cooler seasons typically bring fewer buyers, which can improve negotiating power, while warmer summer periods usually offer more available homes and broader selection.

When we talk about US home prices, the headlines usually focus on the median—but if you look closer, there’s much more to the story. In Q2 2026, the median price for new single-family homes was $410,700, while existing homes came in higher at $435,700—a $25,000 difference, which is the largest gap we’ve seen nationwide. This trend actually flipped back in Q2 2024, when existing-home prices began to outpace new builds.

From what I’ve seen here in Biloxi, these numbers don’t always line up with every market. Factors like lot sizes, home types, and especially construction costs play a big role in shaping what buyers and sellers experience. Builders have been adapting by offering smaller lots, more compact homes, and creative incentives, while many homeowners with those hard-to-beat pandemic mortgage rates are choosing to stay put, keeping inventory low.

By Q2 2026, new-home prices had dipped about 1% year-over-year, and existing-home price growth slowed to around 2% after three solid years of steady increases. Behind every median is a unique local story—something I see every day helping folks find their place in our Gulf Coast community.

Builder sentiment across the U.S. has dipped to its lowest point in a year, with the confidence index falling 3 points to 32 in late Q3. Sales conditions slid to 35, and expectations for the next six months dropped to 37. Though buyer traffic stayed at 23, nearly 4 in 10 builders nationwide have started cutting prices, and two-thirds are offering incentives—up from 63% earlier in the quarter. Mortgage applications for new homes have now declined for five months in a row, with 30-year fixed rates holding in the high-6% range. Many larger builders are leaning on rate buydowns to help buyers secure below-market mortgages, which is keeping sales moving even as price cuts aren't the only tool in play. With 30-year rates hovering near 7%, housing forecasters expect these higher rates to stick around through at least 2027.

As someone who’s spent more than two decades guiding Biloxi residents and investors through changing markets, I know how quickly the landscape can shift. Whether you’re considering your first home or weighing an investment, understanding the bigger picture—and the options available from builders—can make a real difference in your decisions.

Watching the national housing inventory shift always gives me perspective on our own Biloxi market. By mid-Q3 2026, there were 1.14 million active listings across the US—a small year-over-year increase of about 4% from 1.1 million. That’s a much slower pace than last year’s surge, which clocked in at around 21%. We saw growth pick up from a low point of just 2% in late Q2, but the market has clearly cooled compared to the recent past.

Eighteen states and Washington, DC, have now surpassed their pre-pandemic inventory levels from 2019. Yet, on the national level, supply is still lagging—about 8% below mid-Q3 2019, with 1.14 million active listings versus 1.24 million back then. So, while some areas are rebuilding, the country as a whole hasn’t fully caught up.

For buyers and sellers here in Biloxi, this softer market—with prices staying mostly flat and higher mortgage rates in play—means patience and timing are more important than ever. After 23 years in local real estate, I know how every shift in supply and demand can shape your decisions. I’m here to help you make sense of it all, whether you’re searching for a new home, an investment, or getting ready to list.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates, recognizes, and honors the beautiful traditions and cultures of the Indigenous People
We take a stand for and support the indigenous people on this day.
We should also offer our support to those who invest and uplift the indigenous communities.