Keeping Current Matters reported in early 2026 that buying a home is getting more affordable nationally, driven by three things happening at once: mortgage rates easing, home price growth cooling, and wages continuing to rise. I want to take that framework and apply it specifically to Berks and Montgomery Counties because the local picture is genuinely encouraging right now.

In Berks County, the median sale price sits around $291,000 per Redfin data, up 4.6% year over year. That is healthy appreciation but it is a far cry from the 15% to 20% annual jumps we saw during the pandemic frenzy. Slower price growth combined with the current 30-year fixed rate around 6.10% per Freddie Mac and average wage growth running near 4% annually creates exactly the affordability improvement dynamic that Keeping Current Matters described. The math is moving in buyers’ favor.

In Montgomery County, the median single-family home price of $435,000 as of January 2026 is higher but the same principles apply. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, made the point that when income growth exceeds house price growth, buying power improves even without dramatic rate decreases. With wage growth outpacing price appreciation in many of our local markets right now, buyers who were priced out a year ago should absolutely revisit their numbers.

The practical impact in both counties is real. On a $291,000 Berks County home with 10% down, the difference between last year’s peak rates near 7% and today’s 6.10% rate works out to roughly $150 per month. That is $1,800 a year back in your pocket. On a $435,000 Montgomery County home the savings are even more significant. Keeping Current Matters has called this kind of shift the most practically important affordability news of 2026 and I agree with them.

Mischa Fisher, Chief Economist at Zillow, summarized the national picture with a line I think about a lot: buyers are benefiting from more inventory and improved affordability while sellers are seeing price stability and more consistent demand. Both Berks and Montgomery County are experiencing exactly that dynamic right now. It is a healthier, more functional market than what we have had in recent years.

If you have been telling yourself that homeownership is out of reach, I want to gently challenge that assumption. The market today is meaningfully different from where it was 12 to 18 months ago. Please reach out and let me connect you with a local lender who can show you exactly where your numbers stand right now. You might be a lot closer than you think.