You’ve probably seen posts on social media talking about how “home prices are falling.” And when you see something like that, it’s normal to wonder:
Is this the start of a crash?
What does this mean for my house?
Let’s clear this up right away. This is not a crash. And your home is not suddenly losing a lot of value.
The National Story – Prices Are Still Going Up
Here’s what often gets left out of what you’re seeing online. While some markets are experiencing slight declines, they’re the minority. Most places are still seeing prices rise or at the very least, hold steady.
That’s why, at the national level, home prices are still rising, just at a slower pace. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
“Home prices continued to rise in the fourth quarter of 2025. National median prices rose 1.2% year over year to $414,900.”
That’s not the rapid growth ...

You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down.
Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful asset that can help you take your next big step in life.
How Much Equity Does the Typical Homeowner Have?
Here’s how it works. As you pay down your loan and home prices rise through the years, the share of your home that you own free and clear grows. That’s your equity.
And according to data from the Census and ATTOM, two-thirds of homeowners have a substantial amount of it today.
39% own their home outright without owing anything on it. And another 27% have at least 50% equity in their homes (see chart below):
That’s a big deal. And just in case you’re wondering how that translates into real dollars, Cotality says the typical homeowner has almost $300k in equity today. That’s six figures.

And whether you have tha ...

After a long stretch where buyers were competing for too few homes, inventory has made a comeback over the past year. And depending on where you live, that’s opening up your options in a meaningful way. 
According to Realtor.com, the number of homes available for sale in January was the highest it’s been since 2020. Here’s why that’s such a big deal. Getting back to pre-pandemic levels signals a slow and steady return to what’s typical:
Now, it’s worth noting, nationally we’re not there yet – and having more inventory improving won’t suddenly “fix” the market. But the growth we’ve seen lately still changes how competitive the market feels.

When there are more homes for sale, buyers gain time, options, and leverage.


When there aren’t, the pressure ramps up quickly.

In the years since 2020, there weren’t enough homes for sale, and that made the market feel different. ...

If you saw headlines that talked about how “home sales fell sharply in January,” it probably raised an eyebrow – especially if you’re thinking about selling your house. But context matters.
Yes, in January, home sales declined. But that has more to do with seasonality and the weather than it does with any big drop off in demand. 
What’s Really Behind the Decline? 
Reports coming out of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) say the pace of home sales fell roughly 8.4% last month compared to the month before. And that’s true. But it isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. 
Data show it’s normal for sales to dip in January. In the last 4 years, that pattern has held true all but once. And sure, the decline we saw this year was a steeper drop off than the norm (the yellow bars on the right), but that can be explained too. More on that in a moment.
The really important part you& ...

Written by:Steve Marcinuk 
Date: 02 Feb 2026

While much of the country is seeing the housing market slow and buyers gain leverage, northern Bergen County remains under conditions that favor sellers. Local properties routinely sell above asking price, and inventory remains tight despite a slight increase in listings. These factors have kept the market competitive and prices rising, even as other regions experience a pullback.
Paula Clark, leader of The Paula Clark Group at Keller Williams and a 30-year veteran of the area’s real estate market, reports that home prices in northern Bergen County have climbed 13% year-over-year. She expects this growth to continue as interest rates stabilize and more buyers return to the market.
“We’re still in a seller’s market,” Clark says. “We’re still getting over-asking offers, and homes are selling between six and 15% over the asking price.”

This sustained seller advantage contras ...