2026 Mindset for Success
2026 is here! If you’re determined to buy, sell, or invest next year, your chances of turning it into reality will increase with the proper mental framework and approach because this will be a monumental year for real estate along the Front Range. 2025 continued the shift into the “new normal” that started in 2023 as mortgage rates increased. Our buyers and sellers had easier and more successful transactions thanks to taking this approach:
#1 Ignore the Media’s Noise
Many of our conversations with clients involve debunking inaccurate information from news outlets. It’s common for journalists to cherry-pick statistics without doing the necessary in-depth research to understand the context of market trends. And with the significant shifts in interest and recession approaching, you will see a lot of alarming, not-quite-correct statements in the news.
Our advice: Skip the sensationalized articles and social media posts.
Read: Our Market Isn’t Imploding: 2008 vs. 2025
#2 Chat with Your RE/MAX Alliance Agent Now, Not Later
Spending a few minutes chatting with your agent is a far better, healthier approach. They understand how the local market works. Your decisions should be informed by data from a boots-on-the-ground expert immersed daily in the activity happening in your area.
Our advice: Even if you wait until later this year to make a move, talk with your RE/MAX Alliance Agent about your plans. They may recommend some vital action steps so you’re in a better position to purchase or list your home. Also…you may discover in the next few months or even weeks an opportunity to fulfill your real estate goals. Be ready and prepared to act!
Read: What We Want You to Know before Buying or Selling a Home (Part One) (Part Two)
3# Understand the Market’s Conditions
Let’s be honest – we’re all guilty of just reading the headlines from time to time. Remember, they’re designed to get clicks, not to educate readers. So ask your RE/MAX Alliance Agent to clarify those big questions that naturally generate concern:
- Is our market a bubble that’s about to burst?
- Will my home drop in value?
- Have we become a buyer’s market?
- How will the recession impact our real estate?
Our advice: Be weary of news that uses any previous year (including 2025) to predict 2026’s market. We’ve had too many highly unusual years. Political policy changes and global events are now an unpredictable factor that influences our market. Look at stats that are more week-to-week or month-to-month comparisons.
Read: How Do You Know You Hired the Best Real Estate Agent
#4 Be Extra Budget-savvy
Overall, our economy is stable, but is slowing. While we saw some rate cuts in 2025, it has not made the significant shift to make mortgages more “affordable.” There are certainly other ways buyers can save thousands of dollars, as they have far more negotiating power in this more balanced market. But it is more important than ever for buyers to reduce unnecessary spending and increase their savings. If you’d like to improve your credit score, reach out to your RE/MAX Alliance agent for recommendations to excellent lenders who specialize in credit repair.
#5 Move when it is right for you.
There’s never a perfect market to buy or sell. Timing is a far more personal decision. If the numbers work for you, starting now increases your chances of finding the right home or buyer in 2026. Remember, you can adjust the finances (refinance, rent the space) or make improvements to boost your chances for a successful sale. There are always solutions which your RE/MAX Alliance agent will help you strategize.
Sources: National Association of REALTORS®, Realtor.com, Megan Aller at First American Title