Hibernation is Over & Buyers Are Hungry
Hibernation is Over & Buyers Are Hungry
Market Update for the Week Ending January 18, 2026
If the first week of January was the "yawning and stretching" phase, the second full week of the year shows the market is now moving at full speed.
The data suggests that for buyers, hibernation season is officially over. They are out of the cave, hungry for inventory, and moving faster than they have in months. We saw massive double-digit spikes in pending sales across the board, proving that the holiday lull is firmly in the rearview mirror.
Mortgage rates have remained relatively steady, giving buyers the confidence to pull the trigger. (Source: Mortgage News Daily).
🏠 DETACHED HOMES: A Fresh Start
The detached market saw an explosion of activity this week. Newly Pending sales spiked 62%, jumping from 157 last week to 254 this week. New Listings also ticked up slightly (+2%) to 352, keeping the pipeline flowing, but the surge in buyer demand is the headline story.
36% of the homes that went under contract this week were "Fresh" listings (homes on the market for 14 days or less). These homes are flying into escrow with a Median Days to Contract of just 7 days, compared to a 20 DOM status for all of the homes that got snatched up last week.
Price-wise, the data is interesting. The "Fresh" listings had a slightly lower median asking price ($1.04M) compared to the total pending median ($1.07M), suggesting the most intense competition is in that accessible price band. However, the Average price of these fresh sales ($1.42M) was actually higher than the general average ($1.40M), indicating that well-priced high-end homes are also moving quickly when they debut.
🏢 ATTACHED HOMES: Supply & Demand Balance
The attached market (condos and townhomes) mirrored the intensity of the detached sector. Pending sales jumped 41%, rising to 135 contracts this week.
While New Listings dipped 11% week-over-week (falling to 271), it is important to look at the bigger picture. This listing count is actually 13% higher than the same week last year. Furthermore, active inventory is sitting at 1,946 units (a massive 26% increase compared to last year). Buyers have significantly more choices than they did in early 2025, but the good ones are still going fast.
About 35% of this week's pending sales were "Fresh" listings (<14 days on market). These units flew off the market in a median of just 6 days, while the broader pending pool took about 30 days. Crucially, the "Fresh" listings commanded a higher median price ($689k) compared to the general pending median ($669k). This tells us that condo buyers are willing to pay a premium for new, well-presented inventory that doesn't feel "picked over."
💡 What This Means For You
🛒 For Buyers
Speed is your best friend for the "good stuff." If a home hits the market and checks your boxes, you likely have less than a week to act. However, don't ignore the "stale" inventory (homes on market 30+ days). The data shows they are sitting, and that is where you can negotiate on price and repairs.
💰 For Sellers
The "Fresh" data proves that your first two weeks on market are critical. Homes sold in that window are moving in roughly 6-7 days. If you overprice and miss that window, you fall into the general pool where homes sit for 3-4 weeks or longer. Price it right from Day 1 to capture the current surge in buyer energy.
🪺 For Homeowners
The market has officially reset for 2026. Values are holding steady, and demand is absorbing the new supply. If you've been thinking about selling, the buyers are officially out there and looking.
📞 Ready to Make Your Move?
The 2026 market is moving fast. Whether you are looking to buy before prices rise further or sell while demand is peaking, you need a strategy built on real-time data, not headlines.
Let's look at your specific numbers and build a plan.
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