I have been doing this long enough to recognize when a market moment is genuinely worth paying attention to, and spring 2026 is one of those moments. Here is what I am seeing and why I think the timing is unusually interesting for both buyers and sellers right now.

On the seller side, inventory is still historically low across our entire coverage area. Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties are sitting at under 2 months of supply. Bucks County is at 1.6 months. Berks, Lancaster, and Lehigh Counties are all showing balanced to tight conditions. When supply is low and demand is present, sellers have real leverage. Larry Flick V, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox and Roach Realtors, specifically predicted that when the spring market pops in 2026 it will be strong. We are starting to see that play out right now.

On the buyer side, here is what is interesting: a lot of buyers who locked in pandemic-era rates at 3% to 4% have been staying put because they cannot stomach trading up to a 6% mortgage. According to Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi, homeowners are staying in their homes far longer than they historically have because of this lock-in effect. But here is the shift happening right now: the number of homeowners with rates over 6% has just surpassed the number of those with the ultra-low rates. That slow unwinding of the lock-in effect means more sellers are finally ready to move, which means more inventory for buyers.

For buyers, this means you get slightly more options than you did a year ago while prices have not yet fully reflected the additional demand that lower rates could bring. Morgan Stanley forecasts a potential dip toward 5.75% by mid-2026. If that happens, a wave of buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines will flood the market and competition will intensify. Getting in now at 6.1% with a refi plan could put you ahead of that competition surge.

The other factor I keep thinking about is the luxury segment. Philly Mag’s 2026 data shows the share of homes selling for over one million dollars in the region is five times greater than it was in 2019. That speaks to significant wealth in this market and a premium segment that is genuinely active.

Bottom line: we are in a window where inventory is slowly rising, rates are relatively stable, and spring buyer demand is just starting to build. Whether you are buying or selling, acting now rather than waiting for the frenzy to peak is almost always the smarter move.