If you’ve been thinking about buying a home lately, I’m willing to bet you’ve asked yourself some version of this question:
“Should I buy now, or should I just wait until 2027?”
I get it.
As a Realtor, I spend a lot of time talking about interest rates, home prices, inventory, and what’s happening in the Austin market. But I’m also a mom of two who has moved plenty of times in my life before eventually putting down roots here in South Austin.
And if all of those moves taught me anything, it’s that deciding where and when to buy a home is rarely just about the market.
It’s about your life.
So, if you’re waiting for me to tell you that everyone should buy a house right now, I’m not going to do that.
But I’m also not going to tell you that waiting until 2027 will magically make buying a home easier.
Because there are tradeoffs to both.
Why Waiting Until 2027 Sounds So Good
I understand why buyers want to wait.
Maybe mortgage rates will come down.
Maybe prices will fall.
Maybe the perfect house will hit the market.
Maybe you'll save a little more money and feel more comfortable.
All of those things are possible.
But here's what I've learned from both moving myself and helping other families move: there is almost never a moment when every single piece falls perfectly into place.
When one part of the market gets easier, another can become more challenging.
That's why I think buyers need to understand what they're actually waiting for.
There Are More Homes to Choose From Right Now
One thing buyers have going for them today is inventory.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, approximately 1.62 million existing homes were available for sale nationwide in August 2026, which was 5.9% more than August 2025.
The supply of unsold existing homes also reached approximately 4.9 months.
What does that actually mean if you're a buyer?
More options.
And depending on where you're looking, it can also mean less pressure to make an immediate decision and more opportunity to negotiate.
Here in Austin and Central Texas, we've seen situations where sellers are willing to discuss closing-cost contributions, repairs, price reductions, rate buydowns, and other concessions.
Of course, that's not happening on every house.
Austin isn't one single real estate market. What's happening with a home in South Austin can be completely different from what's happening in Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, Round Rock, Georgetown, or Taylor.
That's why I always tell buyers: don't buy based on the headline. Buy based on what's happening with the homes you're actually considering.
“But Kira, What If Rates Come Down?”
This is probably the biggest reason buyers tell me they're waiting.
And yes, mortgage rates could be lower in 2027.
But here's the part I don't think gets talked about enough:
What happens if everyone else who's waiting decides to buy at the same time?
There are a lot of buyers sitting on the sidelines right now saying, “I'll buy when rates come down.”
If rates meaningfully improve, some of those people are probably coming back into the market.
Suddenly, you could have a lower interest rate—but more competition for the same house.
That can mean fewer seller concessions, less negotiating power, and potentially more pressure on prices.
So the decision isn't simply:
High rate now vs. low rate later.
It's more like:
Today's rate + today's home price + today's negotiating power
versus
2027's rate + 2027's home price + 2027's competition.
And we don't know what those last three numbers will be yet.
What About Home Prices?
This is another reason I hear for waiting.
“I think prices are going to come down.”
They certainly could in individual markets, neighborhoods, or price ranges. But nationally, current forecasts aren't necessarily predicting a major decline.
The National Association of REALTORS® reported that the median existing-home sales price nationwide was approximately $429,100 in August 2026, about 1.6% higher than the previous year.
Fannie Mae's Q3 2026 Home Price Expectations Survey gathered projections from more than 100 housing experts. Their average forecast called for approximately 2.5% national home-price growth in 2026 and 2.2% growth in 2027.
Those are forecasts—not promises.
Austin could perform differently. South Austin could perform differently from Austin overall. Your particular neighborhood could perform differently from South Austin.
But it's important to understand that waiting for lower rates doesn't necessarily mean you'll also get a lower home price.
Here's a Simple Example
Let's say you're looking at a $450,000 home today.
If that home increased in value by 2.2% over the next year—the national growth rate projected for 2027 in the Fannie Mae survey—it would be approximately $459,900.
Does that mean the house will definitely be worth $459,900 next year?
Absolutely not.
But it demonstrates why the decision isn't as simple as waiting for rates to improve.
Maybe rates come down and save you money.
Maybe the house becomes more expensive.
Maybe rates come down and prices stay flat.
Maybe you find a seller today who's willing to contribute toward your closing costs or help buy down your rate.
There are a lot of moving pieces.
As a Mom, I Look at This Differently Too
Before I found my roots in South Austin, I moved plenty of times.
And once you have kids, you realize pretty quickly that moving isn't just a financial transaction.
You're thinking about bedrooms. Schools. Commutes. Parks. Where you're going to spend Saturday mornings. How close you are to family and friends. Whether you can see yourself actually building a life there.
Sometimes waiting makes complete sense.
But sometimes life is telling you it's time to move even when the housing market isn't giving you the giant flashing “BUY NOW” sign you were hoping for.
Maybe your family is growing.
Maybe you're tired of renting.
Maybe you've outgrown your current house.
Maybe you're relocating.
Maybe you've finally found the neighborhood where you want to put down roots.
Those things matter too.
When Buying Now Could Make Sense
Buying now deserves serious consideration if you’re financially stable, comfortable with the monthly payment, and expect to stay in the home for several years.
This market is full of opportunity if you have the right strategy and a Realtor who knows how to navigate it. Interest rates are one piece of the puzzle, but getting stuck on the rate alone could keep you on the sidelines—and waiting—for years to come.
