More Buyers Are Planning to Move in 2026. Here’s How to Prepare!
How To Get Ready
Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy a home in the next 12 months. This year, that number rose to 17%.
That 2% increase might not sound like a big jump, but in a market where buyer demand has been cooling for the past few years, it’s a sign things are starting to shift. More people are feeling ready (or at least closer to ready) to take the leap and buy a home in 2026.
And if you are in that camp and buying a home is on your goal sheet this year, this is your nudge to connect with Ben Keeney and a trusted lender to start laying the groundwork now.
Planning to Move in Early 2026?
Start with these 3 steps:
- Get pre-approved. A pre-approval gives you a real understanding of your buying power and what your payment could be at today’s rates.
- Run the numbers. Look closely at all your expenses to come up with your budget. Consider what you are spending on other bills and what your monthly mortgage payment would be once you buy.
- Define your non-negotiables. Once you know the numbers work, figure out your must-haves. Getting clear on these now makes decisions easier once you start looking at homes.
Thinking about Buying Later in the Year? This is still Your Window to Prepare
Even if buying feels like a late-2026 goal, this moment still matters. The buyers who feel the most confident later are usually the ones who quietly prepared earlier.
That doesn’t mean big financial commitments or major lifestyle changes. It just means setting yourself up so you are ready when the timing is right. Here are a few low-stress ways to do that:
- Work on your credit. While you don’t need to have perfect credit to buy a home, your score can have an impact on your loan terms and mortgage rate. Paying down debt now and making payments on time can help bring your score up.
- Automate your savings. If you have to remember to transfer money into your homebuying savings manually, you may forget to do it. You may want to set up automatic transfers to drive consistency and remove the temptation to spend the money elsewhere.
- Lean into your side hustles. Do you have a gig you do (or have done before) to net some extra cash? Taking on part-time work, freelance jobs, or picking up a side hustle can help give your savings a boost.
- Put any unexpected cash to good use. If you get any sudden windfalls, like a tax refund, bonus, inheritance, or cash gift from family, put it toward your house fund. You will thank yourself later.
The right prep work makes a difference!