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Are you planning to buy a home in Washington in 2026? If so, you’ll to get up-to-speed on the local market to help you make a sound purchasing decision.
Many home buyers across Washington State are wondering if they should buy now, in early 2026, or later in the year. Here are three motivations for buying a house in Washington sooner rather than later.
There are a few good reasons why buyers may want to buy a home sooner in 2026 rather than later, including the following.
Buying a home when mortgage rates are low is a great reason to buy. Even the difference of one percent makes a huge difference on the amount of savings that you can experience over the life of your home loan. And right now, mortgage rates are still relatively high, though they are a declining trend, making today a great time to get into the real estate market.
As of February 2026, the rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.10%. That’s about 1% lower than where the rate was the same time last year.
The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts that the rate will decrease by the end of 2026. Of course, this is just a forecast. And these kinds of predictions have been inaccurate in the past. But the general consensus among economists is that mortgage rates will decrease throughout 2026, though will still remain relatively high.
Rising home values are another factor that could affect Washington home buyers in 2026. This is especially true in the Seattle metro area, where prices are particularly high. But the trend could affect the entire state of Washington, to some degree.
Right now, the real estate market in the state of Washington is somewhat healthy. Over the past 12 months, home prices have decreased by 0.5%, according to Zillow. However, they are expected to incraese throughout the year, though at a slower pace. Right now, the average home price in Washington is about $585,576.
This is another big consideration for those planning to buy a home in Washington in 2026. Postponing your purchase until later in the year could cost you.
Real estate markets across the country have experienced inventory shortages over the last couple of years, and nowhere is this more evident in the Seattle area. All major cities across Washington have suffered from supply shortages. But it’s most pronounced in Seattle.
But these shortages aren’t limited to the Seattle area — they will affect home buyers across Washington State in 2026. For example, in King County, there is just a 2.8-month supply of homes available for sale, and in Seattle, there’s just 2.2-month supply.
Are you considering a home purchase in Washington State and need a loan to finance it? Sammamish Mortgage can help. We’ve been helping home buyers across the Pacific Northwest since 1992, including WA, CO, ID, OR, and CA. We offer highly competitive rates on a variety of mortgage programs, including FHA, VA and conventional. Please contact us if you have questions or to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Or visit our website to use our online mortgage calculator or to get an instant rate quote.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.
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