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Is 2026 a good time to buy a home in Tacoma, Washington? It sure is looking that way. Tacoma home buyers actually have a lot going for them these days, as explained below.
The biggest benefits for buyers in 2026 include more inventory, more negotiating leverage, and an overall slower pace within the real estate market.
To create this report, we analyzed a variety of trends and data relating to the Tacoma, Washington real estate market. And most of those trends will benefit home buyers who are planning to enter the market sometime during 2026. So let’s examine them.
At the start of 2026, the Tacoma real estate market was up to about a 2-month supply of homes for sale. That’s still a bit low by historical standards, but a major improvement from where we were just a year ago.
Housing inventory in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area is expected to increase in 2026, continuing a multi-year recovery trend. The market is moving toward a more balanced state, giving buyers more options.
This is one of the biggest reasons why 2026 could be a good time to buy a home in Tacoma. With more inventory available, local buyers should have an easier time finding a suitable property within their budgets.
A year ago, strong demand and dwindling supply accelerated the local real estate market like never before, creating a competitive “footrace” for buyers, though the DOM crept up over the recent past.
But this is another area where we’ve seen significant change. As of January 2026, the median number of days on market in Tacoma is now 31 days. In other words, it’s taking 31 days to sell a home these days.
These and other changes could make the home buying process a little more competitive, for those who are entering the market over the coming months. But that just means that buyers stand to gain a valuable asset by purchasing a home in Tacoma.
Last year, mortgage rates went on an upward surge that lasted for many weeks, culminating in a 15-year high. But they’ve declined a bit since then, and it seems that the “surge” might be over for now.
As of January 2026, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.18%.
A couple of years ago, home prices were surging all across the Seattle metro area, including Tacoma. But prices decelerated over the subsequent months.
According to Zillow, the median home value in Tacoma, Washington was around $479,737 in January 2026. That was a dip of 1.1% from a year earlier.
Granted, home prices will likely start to rise again in the near future. Tacoma is a strong real estate market with a long history of steady price growth. But for those who are planning to buy a home in 2026, it’s nice to know that some “normalcy” has been restored.
It’s also worth noting that the typical home price in Tacoma is significantly less than in the city of Seattle. This is one reason why many home buyers in the metro area zero in on the Tacoma real estate market in particular. They do it to get more house for the money.
Early data and first hand accounts of buyer demand shows that buyers who left in the fall and early winter are coming back eager to buy. If this trend continues you will see an end to the brief buyers market as the increased demand is unlikely expected to be met with an increase in supply.
Homeowners currently at a sub 3% interest rate are less inclined to sell their current home and buy a new home with rates double what they already have locked in. Macro trends do not support an extended price decline so we may have already seen the bottom as home prices stabilize and then continue to appreciate albeit at a more moderate pace.
Bottom line: Only you can decide if 2026 is the right time to buy a house. Home buyers need to consider a variety of factors, including their current financial situation and long-term goals. But from a market standpoint, 2026 could be a great year to buy a house in the Tacoma area. In fact, we are currently seeing the most “buyer-friendly” housing market conditions we’ve had for quite some time.
Do you need mortgage financing in Tacoma, WA? We can help. Sammamish Mortgage has been helping borrowers across the Pacific Northwest since 1992, including Washington State, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon. We offer many different mortgage programs with flexible qualification requirements to suit the needs of each borrower, including our Diamond Homebuyer Program, Cash Buyer Program, and Bridge Loans. Contact us today if you have questions about applying for a mortgage, get pre-approved for a home loan, or visit our website to get an instant rate quote.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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