Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s actually backwards.

Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home.

You’re scrolling through listings on your phone and everything looks good until you see the price (or the estimated monthly payment). Then you close the app.

A recent survey from Talker Research asked Americans to pick one word to describe how 2026 has felt so far. The winner? Stressful. And honestly, there’s been a lot going on.

Few things are as rattling as the thought of your home sale falling through at the last minute, right before closing. All that waiting, all that progress, out the window.

When’s the last time someone told you what your house is worth? Not what some online valuation tool guessed. Not what your neighbor’s house sold for. What yours is actually worth right now.

You may have heard the number of homes for sale isn’t growing like it was. And maybe that has you worried you won’t find a home you love when it’s time to make your move.

That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you’ve been using for storage. To you, it’s extra space. But to a growing pool of buyers, it’s the reason they’d pick your house.

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they’ll still get top dollar.

If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while.