Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait? (2026 Guide)
By Jeff and Lane Morrell · October 2026
The Morrell Group | eXp Realty
There is no universal calendar answer: the right time to buy is when you are financially ready and you have found the right home at the right price. What changed in 2026 is that buyers in El Paso County finally have choices, negotiable prices, and time to decide. Waiting for a perfect moment usually costs more than making a prepared move.
What the numbers actually show
El Paso County median sale price was about $470,000 over the 30 days through October 19, 2026, and has been basically flat for a year (our market data, October 2026). National forecasts through our real estate posts project modest price growth, not a crash: prices were up about 1.7% year over year nationally as of mid-2026.
The rate question
Rates moved between the low 6s and the low 7s through 2026. Every half point of rate costs roughly 5% of buying power at the same payment (our September 2026 rate post), so many buyers find it makes sense to buy the home and refinance later rather than wait for a rate drop that has no date attached.
The real cost of waiting
While you wait, rents continue, prices hold, and the specific home you wanted may sell. Our read: prepare your financing, watch your neighborhood, and buy when the numbers work for your life, not when the headlines turn.
People ask us this at dinner parties and at every listing appointment. Our honest answer is that two years of waiting have cost buyers more than most rate swings ever will. Get your numbers right, and when the right home at the right price shows up, you will know it. Rest easy, then act.
Here when you're ready, Jeff & Lane Morrell
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