This Week’s Stats
New Listings: 40 → (from 40)
Pending Sales: 125 → (from 125)
Sold Homes: 133 → (from 133)
Price Reductions: 26 → (from 26)

Weekly Trend Overview

This past week brought a steady and predictable pattern across South Snohomish and North King Counties as we moved fully into the Christmas holiday window. All major metrics held flat week over week, which is very typical for this time of year.

New listings remained limited as many sellers chose to wait until after the holidays. At the same time, pending and closed sales stayed consistent, showing that buyers who are active right now are serious and prepared to move forward despite fewer choices.

Price reductions also held steady, suggesting that most sellers currently on the market are either priced appropriately or comfortable waiting until early January to make any adjustments.

Overall, this week reflects a seasonal pause rather than a change in market direction, with activity expected to remain similar through year end.

What This Means for You

For Buyers
With fewer new listings coming online, the right homes can still attract attention quickly. Buyers who are prepped, paying attention, and ready to act have an advantage in this quieter window, especially when sellers are motivated to keep things moving before the end of the year.

For Sellers
Even during the holiday slowdown, buyer activity has not disappeared. Homes that are priced correctly and presented well continue to sell. Sellers planning a move in early 2026 can use this period to prepare strategically and enter the new year positioned ahead of the spring market.

If you’d like to see how these trends are playing out in your specific neighborhood or want to talk through timing for the new year, I’m always happy to walk through the local numbers with you.

For years, many homeowners felt locked in by their historically low mortgage rates. But today we are seeing more and more people across Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Everett, Bothell, Kenmore, and Shoreline choosing to move even though it means taking on a higher rate.
There are real life reasons behind this shift and most of them have nothing to do with chasing the lowest possible payment.

Below is what is happening nationally and how it shows up in our local market.

People Are Realizing They Stayed Put Longer Than They Planned

(The graphic showing how long homeowners have stayed in their homes)

Many homeowners stayed in place during 2020 through 2023 because locking in a two or three percent mortgage rate felt like winning the lottery. The unintended result was that people put their lives on hold.
Now those delays are catching up.

Locally, I am meeting homeowners who
• Need more space than their current home allows
• Want to downsize from a home that no longer fits their lifestyle
• Are relocating for a new job or was called back into the office
• Are ready to move closer to family or easier commuting routes

Life events are starting to take priority over the monthly rate conversation.

Changes in Household Needs Are Outgrowing Low Rate Comfort

(The graphic showing reasons homeowners are motivated to move)

Across South Snohomish and North King County, the most common motivators I am seeing are
• Growing families who need more usable space
• Empty nesters who want a simpler floor plan
• People looking for multi generational layouts
• Homeowners wanting newer construction or updated features they do not have

A low rate is nice, but if the home does not fit your daily life anymore, it becomes a tradeoff that no longer makes sense.

Equity Is Playing a Major Role in Local Decisions

Many homeowners now have more equity than they ever imagined.
This is especially true here, where average home prices rose sharply
• Snohomish County up 7.6 percent in 2024 and nearly 2 percent again in 2025
• King County up nearly 10 percent in 2024 and another 1.5 percent in 2025

That equity gives sellers the ability to
• Offset the cost of today’s rates
• Make a stronger down payment
• Move into a home that better fits their lifestyle
• Maintain long term wealth that benefits them for years

Your rate matters, but your equity can reshape the financial picture in a way most people do not fully realize until we walk through it together.

Buyers Are Learning That Payment Options Are More Flexible Than They Thought

There are more tools available today than during the lowest rate years
• Rate buydowns paid by sellers or builders
• Adjustable rate options for buyers planning shorter stays
• Refinancing potential if rates ease
• Equity transfers that reduce overall borrowing needs

In our local market, these tools make a real difference. A seller who wants to move can often structure their sale and purchase in a way that feels far more comfortable than expected.

Bottom Line for Our Local Market

People are not moving because they want a higher mortgage rate – nobody really WANTS that! They are moving because their life is changing and their home needs to change with it.
And that is exactly what we are seeing across South Snohomish and North King County right now.

If you have been staying put only because of your low rate, it may be worth having a conversation about what your options really look like. Your next move might be more attainable than you think.

This Week’s Stats
New Listings: 103 ↑ (from 37)
Pending Sales: 136 ↑ (from 127)
Sold Homes: 119 ↑ (from 106)
Price Reductions: 97 ↑ (from 51)

Weekly Trend Overview

Activity bounced back across South Snohomish and North King Counties now that the Thanksgiving holiday pause is behind us. New listings jumped to 103 which brought some much needed fresh options to the market. Buyers responded with 136 homes going pending which is a solid increase from last week’s holiday dip. Closed sales rose to 119 and reductions moved up to 97 which reflects both motivated sellers and buyers who remain selective.

This week shows the return to normal early December momentum where serious buyers stay active and sellers who price accurately continue to see strong engagement.

What This Means for You

For Buyers
More choices returned this week which is good news as we move into the final stretch of the year. The best prepared and best priced homes continue to draw attention quickly while others still require adjustments. Staying ready with clean terms and fast decision making will put you in a strong position in this market.

For Sellers
Momentum picked back up and buyers are reengaged after the holiday break. Accurate pricing and thoughtful presentation remain essential as reductions climbed to 97. Well positioned homes are still seeing meaningful traction. If you are thinking about listing soon, this window heading into mid December can be surprisingly productive with motivated buyers still in the market.

If you want to review your neighborhood’s activity or plan your next steps, I can walk you through the trends and what they mean for your goals.

Talk of a recession comes up every year, especially when mortgage rates, inflation, or consumer confidence make headlines. The good news is that housing experts across the board are not expecting a recession that would impact our local real estate market the way people often fear. In fact, conditions across South Snohomish and North King County continue to show stability, strong buyer demand, and healthy long term fundamentals.

Here is what that looks like on the ground in places like Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Everett, Bothell, Shoreline, and Kenmore.

Experts See a Stronger National Economy Than Headlines Suggest
Most economists tracking the housing sector explain that while certain industries are cooling, the overall economy is still moving forward with steady job growth, wage gains, and consumer spending. Locally, our job market continues to benefit from the tech corridor, aerospace, healthcare, and logistics which helps keep housing demand resilient even during uncertain news cycles.

Housing Continues to Be a Stabilizing Force
Housing has repeatedly proven to be one of the most stable parts of the economy. Our region consistently performs well due to limited land supply, long term population growth, and strong household incomes. Even when national conversations lean toward caution, our local housing market rarely moves in the same way. Inventory remains tight and it’s not unheard of for buyers continue to compete for well presented and appropriately priced homes.

Home Prices Hold Their Value in Our Area
National analysts expect home prices to remain steady with modest growth over the next year. Locally, the data tells an even stronger story. Snohomish County average sales price rose 7.6 percent in 2024 and added nearly another 2 percent in 2025. King County saw even larger gains with average sales price rising nearly 10 percent in 2024 and climbing another 1.5 percent in 2025. These steady increases show how resilient home values are in our region. With supply far below what would be needed for prices to decline, well priced and well marketed homes continue to hold and build equity.

Consumer Confidence Is Improving as Rates Slowly Ease
As mortgage rates continue trending toward more comfortable levels, buyers are returning to the market that had stepped back earlier in the year. Locally, we are already seeing higher showing activity, more pre approvals, and stronger interest in move in ready homes. Many buyers feel encouraged knowing experts do not expect a recession driven slowdown.

What This Means for Sellers Right Now
Sellers in South Snohomish and North King County continue to have the advantage of lower competition. Even with shifting headlines, motivated buyers are still out there and are actively writing offers on homes that show well and are presented with strong marketing. Listing now positions a seller ahead of the seasonal surge that hits every year in early spring. I personally have buyers shopping that cannot find the right home for them with tighter inventory options.

What This Means for Buyers Right Now
Buyers should feel confident in the long term outlook of our region. Waiting for a recession driven drop is not part of any expert forecast and historically has not played out in our area. Purchasing while rates slowly improve allows buyers to secure a home now, build equity sooner, and refinance later if rates settle further.

Bottom Line for Our Local Market
National headlines rarely match what actually happens in South Snohomish and North King County. Experts are not expecting a recession that would disrupt the housing market and our region remains one of the strongest in the state. Whether you are planning to buy or sell, staying informed with hyper local guidance is the key to making the right move.

This Week’s Stats
New Listings: 37 ↓ (from 89)
Pending Sales: 127 ↓ (from 164)
Sold Homes: 106 ↓ (from 126)
Price Reductions: 51 ↓ (from 115)

Weekly Trend Overview

This short holiday week delivered a predictable slowdown across South Snohomish and North King Counties. New listings dropped sharply to 37 which is expected as many sellers choose to wait until after Thanksgiving. Buyer activity also eased with 127 homes going pending compared to 164 last week. Closed sales moved down to 106 and price reductions fell to 51 which often happens when fewer homes are coming online and sellers pause their adjustments for the holiday stretch.

Even with the softer numbers, this week is more of a seasonal pause than a shift. Activity typically picks back up once we move into early December and momentum usually grows again after the first week of the month.

What This Means for You

For Buyers
This week offered fewer choices, but that does not mean opportunities are gone. Motivated sellers who stayed active through the holiday may still be open to strong terms or creative structures. Once new inventory starts to return next week, staying prepared will help you move quickly when the right home appears.

For Sellers
Holiday weeks always show slower movement. The important thing to watch is how buyers respond in the next seven to ten days as new listings return and pace picks up. Homes that are priced accurately and presented well still outperform the rest, and buyers remain selective but motivated when the right home shows up.

If you want a quick look at how your neighborhood performed or you are planning a move before the new year, I am always here to help you review the trends.