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Hi, I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and welcome to my February 2026 Market Update! It’s starting to feel like we’ve been here before. In fact… it’s starting to look a lot like the annual real estate cycle is about to repeat itself— déjà vu all over again . And honestly, what’s remarkable isn’t that this cycle exists. It’s that it keeps showing up no matter what we throw at it . Over the last few years, we’ve watched the market move through inflation, high interest rates, tech layoffs, political turmoil, tariffs, and global conflicts—and yet, somehow, the underlying rhythm just keeps chugging along. And let’s be clear—there has been no shortage  of reasons for buyers and sellers to hesitate lately.Locally, tech layoffs have rattled confidence.Nationally, there’s still confusion about the economy and this very real K-shaped recovery.Inflation hasn’t fully cooled. Tariffs have pushed up everyday costs. And global uncertainty hasn’t exactly taken a vacation. In theory, all of that should derail market behavior. But once again… it hasn’t. Here’s what we’re seeing as the year gets underway. The beginning of the year continues to act like a reset button . Average mortgage interest rates are holding just over the 6% mark—not low by historical standards, but stable enough  for buyers to re-engage. And while some of the early signals are still anecdotal, they’re remarkably consistent. Homes that are just coming on the market are selling within days—often with multiple offers and prices pushed well above asking. Even the condo market, which was pretty quiet for much of last year, is starting to show signs of life—though buyers there are still a bit more cautious. Now, from a data perspective, it’s really important to focus on the right indicators  this time of year. Median prices and closed sales mostly reflect activity from December—so they’re a bit backward-looking right now.  What really matters is what’s happening today . And that shows up in new listings and pending sales . And here’s where things get interesting. New listings are up 21.7% , and pending sales are up 11.2% . That tells us something important: sellers are stepping back in—and buyers are right there with them . This looks like the early release of both pent-up supply  and pent-up demand —two trends I’ve talked about many times before. It’s still early, and we don’t know how long this momentum will last or how strong it will become. But the signals are real—and they’re worth paying attention to. By the way, if you want to look at the data, charts, and full analysis at your own pace, you’ll find everything in my February newsletter , available online and for download, for free, at Weisbarth.com/newsletter —that’s Weisbarth.com/newsletter . So what’s the takeaway? Barring any major new disruptions—and yes, I’m knocking on wood— 2026 could shape up to be a strong year for real estate in our area . Not because conditions are perfect, but because the familiar cycle appears to be reasserting itself once again. And early-cycle moments like this?That’s when good planning matters most . If you’re thinking about buying or selling this year—or even just trying to figure out when  to make a move—now is the right time to start the conversation. My team and I use real data, proven systems, and on-the-ground experience to help our clients position themselves ahead of the market , not chasing it after the fact. And remember—when you work with us, you’re also supporting Akin , an amazing nonprofit that helps kids and families in need thrive. Your business and referrals make a real difference in our community, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of. So if you’d like to talk strategy—or if you know someone who could use some guidance—reach out by email, text, or (my favorite) a good old-fashioned phone call at 206-779-9808 . That’s 206-779-9808 . Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for more updates—and be sure to check out the full February newsletter at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates—happy Valentines Day, happy Lunar New Year, Ramadan Mubarak and Go Hawks! I’ll see you next month.

Hi, I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and welcome to my January 2026 Market Update! Once a year — and only once a year — I attempt to predict the future. It’s a form of self-torture, I suppose,  but the good news is that so far no one has come to tar and feather me for my bad predictions. So here I go again — stepping up to the ledge for 2026. Before we look forward in time, let’s set the stage and take a quick peek backwards in time. If you take a look at this chart, you’ll see that for all the craziness in 2025, and there was plenty of it — high interest rates, inflation, economic uncertainty, high tariffs, low tariffs, high tariffs, low tariffs, global conflict, to name just a few — the real estate market in our area was remarkably… unremarkable. Median prices went up. Maybe not dramatically, but they did. And market activity has stayed about the same since 2023, back when high inflation and high rates first hit. In other words, the seasonal rhythm that has become almost endemic in our area, survived just fine through thick and thin. And that’s a good thing. First, because it allows me to make “good enough” predictions so I won’t end up with egg all over my face. But more importantly, based on those patterns we can now chart a course for anyone who’s looking to buy and/or sell a home in the coming year. By the way, if you want to look at this data and read the full report at your own pace and leisure, you’ll find everything in my January newsletter, available online and for download, for free, at Weisbarth.com/newsletter — that’s Weisbarth.com/newsletter . Alright! The moment we’ve all been waiting for, least of all me — prediction time! One thing that has been true in our area for many, many years is that the level of buyer demand still far exceeds the number of homes for sale. So even when uncertainty shows up — as it did throughout 2025 — that demand doesn’t disappear. It retracts, it waits, it simmers… but it never goes away. If you’ve heard me refer to the ‘pent-up demand’ before — that’s exactly what helps build it. Buyers who, on the one hand, are eager to find a good, stable home for themselves and their families, and yet are temporarily holding back. Remember — buying a home is an emotional act, and that means that it’s fraught with emotions high and low. You probably also heard me quote that old saying that a confused mind will do nothing. It just sits there and waits for more clarity — a brighter day, a clear path, a sign from the universe… something! Anything! Well guess what — that sign from the universe just arrived, delivered by a horse-drawn carriage. Interest rates have been steadily dropping recently. They’d been hovering just over the 6% mark and even crossed into the upper 5% territory. Of course that’s an average rate, so if your credit score is better and you’re putting down a large enough down payment, your rate might be lower than that average. And this all creates the perfect lure to bring those buyers out. So my prediction is that we’ll see a lot of buyers enter — or re-enter — the market. And this year’s buyers — especially the ones in the mid- to higher-end — may have extra fuel from their very strong 2025 stock market gains. With those earnings, they’ll feel good and confident to make larger down payments, compete harder, and push prices up more quickly. But it gets even better (well… for sellers). Historically, those buyers show up en masse at the beginning of the year — exactly when inventory levels are at their lowest. That mismatch of high demand with low supply creates competition, multiple offers, and upward price pressure. Let me put that chart back up again for a second, because it’s always easier to spot the pattern visually than to describe it in words. So, as you can see from past years’ data, I expect that the early part of 2026 will be very favorable for sellers. If you’re a buyer watching this, what this means is that, yes, competition will be stronger, and if you’re worried, ask me about our proven 3-step system for buyers that helps dramatically change the odds in your favor. Now, by mid-year, we’ll likely see a leveling off in home prices and market activity. Then we enter the usual summer slowdown as buyers and sellers choose sun and travel over open houses. And then a second fall surge before the market finally taps the brakes again heading into the holidays. So that’s the playbook I’m betting on for 2026. Now, I know what you’re thinking:“This isn’t much of a prediction — it’s just a description of past patterns.”Yep. You’re right. Not much of a walk on the ledge here. The big question is this: how big will that spring surge be? Now that’s the part no one can predict. And of course, we don’t know what national or global surprises are in store for us this year, and notice I didn’t say “if”… But if 2025 taught us anything, it’s that this market is stubbornly resilient, even when the world is doing somersaults. So, if you — or someone you know — has a New Year’s resolution that includes buying and/or selling a home this year, my team and I would love the referral. We’ve perfected our 5-step system for sellers and our 3-step system for buyers, and we’ve got the numbers to prove how well they work. Combined with our engineering-level analysis, we know how to track market trends, and based on that, adjust our strategies to meet them. And remember — when you work with us, you’re also helping support Akin, an amazing nonprofit helping kids and families in need thrive. Your business and referrals make a real difference in the community, and we’re incredibly proud to be a part of that mission. For a no-obligation consultation — or if you just want to explore your options or bounce around some ideas — reach out by email, text, or, my favorite, a good old-fashioned phone call at 206-779-9808. That’s 206-779-9808. We are always happy to help! Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for more updates — and be sure to check out the full January newsletter at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates — Happy New Year, and I’ll see you next month!

December 2025 Vlog  Hi, I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and welcome to my December 2025 Market Update! Let’s talk about 2025 — a year that was about as exciting as lukewarm cup of tea. Yes, home prices in the Seattle area did end higher than they started, but overall? The year felt pretty flat. And that modest price bump? It hides a much bigger story: this market did not  treat all price points equally. Homes at or above the median price did fairly well. Lower-priced homes? Not so much.And condos… well… let’s just say 2025 was not their comeback tour. In fact, it may have been their toughest year in more than a decade. But here’s the part that’s actually fascinating. Despite everything happening in the world — elections, global tension, inflation, tech jitters, and the occasional “AI is taking over” headline — one thing stayed remarkably consistent: our market’s seasonal rhythm. Every year we see the same pattern: Q4 activity drops,  then Q1 activity bounces right back up and with a vengeance.  And this year? Same dance, different music.The slowdown happening right now is seasonal, not structural. The market isn’t collapsing. It’s simply doing what it always does at this time of year — taking a holiday nap. By the way, if you want to see the full chart and read the full report at your own pace, you’ll find everything in my December newsletter—available online and for download, for free, at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . That’s Weisbarth.com/newsletter . So What Happens Next? Well, if history is any guide, we should start seeing the first signs of life again in late January or early February. And here’s the part that I think is really  interesting: For the last few years, that bounce back hasn’t been gentle — it’s been more like a slingshot.A sharp burst in buyer activity.A quick jump in prices.A wave of offers that suddenly appears out of nowhere. Why?Because buying a home is deeply emotional. When people feel uncertain — about interest rates, the economy, global events — they freeze. But life doesn’t wait for things to “feel safe.” People still get married, divorced, have babies, need office space, want a yard for their dog, or finally decide they’re done with walking up three flights of stairs with groceries. That demand builds — quietly — until eventually, it bursts. And Here’s the Big Fuel for 2026 Interest rates just hit their lowest levels in almost three years .That is exactly  the kind of jolt that has the potential to wakes up hesitant buyers. Now, will it be a huge surge? A moderate wave? Or a “just enough to make things interesting” kind of bump? We’ll know a lot more by the end of January — so definitely tune in for the February update. So are you or someone you know thinking of selling? Right now, in December, the window for selling successfully is basically… closed. Buyers are busy with holidays, family, and pretending they’re not procrastinating on their shopping. BUT — if you want to sell in early 2026? This is exactly  the moment to get ready. Because that Q1 surge — when it arrives — is one of the best opportunities of the year to sell fast, for top dollar, and with the least amount of hassle. My team and I can help you get your home prepared, fine-tune your strategy, and make sure you hit the ground running when buyers re-enter the market. We offer a no-obligation consultation. We use our proven 5-step system that outperforms our competitors and we have the numbers to prove it. So if you’re thinking of making a move, email, text or call directly at 206-779-9808, that’s 206-779-9808 . We’ll map out a smart plan so you’re ready the moment the market wakes up.  And remember—when you work with us, you’re also supporting Akin, an amazing nonprofit helping kids and families in need thrive. Your business and referrals make a real difference in our community, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of that mission. Thanks for watching! Remember to like, subscribe, and follow for more updates. And be sure to check out the full December newsletter at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates — stay warm, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and I’ll see you next year!