As I sit at an Open House in November (2026), I don’t think I’m giving away any trade secrets by saying that the market is slow and that it is, indeed, a buyers’ market. High inventory and high interest rates have combined to allow home buyers more selection and more negotiating power than anytime in the last decade.
As the ticker climbs on “days on the market”, many home sellers ask if they should take their homes off the market for the holidays. The answer to that is not clear and an argument could be made in either direction:
As other sellers remove their listings, buyers have less options – making those remaining more desirable. Some people have to move regardless of the season due to life changes, job transfers, family circumstances, etc. In many ways, real estate is a matter of being at the right place at the right time.
Removing a property from the market may allow sellers to do projects, freshen paint and spruce up the home for a fresh start in the New Year. A home that has been off the market is able to reset those pesky “days on the market” after 61 days off, showing up as a fresh new listing. That’s right, after 61 days off the market, the clock resets to ZERO. Of course, that only fools consumers who are not real estate professionals who can easily see the sales or attempted sale history of a home.
If a seller is occupying their home while it is on the market, I would suggest that they do two things: Don’t go over the top with decorating for the holidays. Tasteful and sparce would be my suggestions. Secondly, I would be hyper vigilant about leaving gift cards or small wrapped gifts out and use even greater care to stow cash, checks or credit cards out of sight (and possibly offsite).
If you do stay on the market, remember, it is your home, Don’t allow showings when you have planned a celebration and alter your plans. Ask if the agent requesting a specific day that you are having 20 guests over, ask if another showing time would work just as well.
