If selling your house is on your calendar for 2027, you may be thinking you’ve got plenty of time. Maybe you’re aiming for January. Maybe you’re waiting for spring. Either way, next year probably feels far enough away that getting ready can wait, too. But waiting until 2027 to sell doesn’t mean waiting until 2027 to get started.Today’s buyers have more homes to choose from than they’ve had in years. So, if you want your house to stand out when it’s time to list, a little preparation now can make a big difference later.How Early Should You Start Getting Ready?As a general rule of thumb, Zillow recommends giving yourself about 2-3 months to get your house ready to list. And that makes sense when you consider that the vast majority of sellers (78%) did at least one home improvement project before their house hit the market. That gives you plenty of time to decide what to fix, find contractors, get on their schedules, actually make the updates, and get everything ready for photos and showings. But don’t worry – that doesn’t mean every seller had some big to-do. The most common? Interior painting (see graph below):That certainly doesn’t mean you need to tackle everything on this list. You may not need to do any of it. But odds are there’s at least one project you’ll want to do. And starting that conversation now gives you a leg up before next year. Here’s how to tackle it.1. Talk to an Agent Before Starting Any ProjectsWhile you might have a long list of things you think need updating, that doesn’t mean they’re all worth the time, effort, or money. An agent will help you figure out which projects deserve a spot on your to-do list based on what buyers want most and what other sellers are doing. That way, you’re not investing in updates that won’t make much of a difference when you sell.2. Get Ahead with a Pre-Listing InspectionOne thing your agent may recommend today is that you go ahead and get a pre-listing inspection. It’s basically your cheatsheet to what a buyer’s inspection may turn up later on. And now that buyers have more options, they’re pickier – and you don’t want anything popping up in an inspection that could put them off.For example, you know that HVAC system you’ve been hoping will make it through one more season? Now’s a good time to give it some attention – along with anything else you know needs a little TLC. That way a repair you could’ve handled months ago won’t become a surprise in the middle of your sale. According to Angi, a pre-listing inspection typically costs $300-600 and that can be money well spent. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.”

The advantage isn’t just knowing what may come up, but being able to get ahead of it and space out the projects on your own schedule. So you don’t feel stressed during go-time. 3. Save the Final Touches for Closer to Listing DayBut remember, not everything needs to happen right away. Some things are better saved for when you’re closer to listing.Think deep cleaning, staging, touching up paint, and tidying up the landscaping. Those are the finishing touches that’ll help your house look its best when buyers walk through the door.But there’s one thing you can start anytime: decluttering. Go ahead and tackle the closets, garage, or storage room you’ve been avoiding. Future you will appreciate having a few less boxes to pack.The idea isn’t to get everything done today. It’s to spread the work out so you’re not scrambling when listing day arrives. As Redfin puts it:

“Smart preparation leads to a smoother sale, stronger offers, and fewer surprises during closing. . . Homes that are clean, well-staged, priced right, and professionally photographed tend to sell quickly.”

Bottom LineYou don’t need to spend the rest of the year renovating your house or packing up your life. But you can start making a plan.The earlier you figure out what needs to be done, the more time you’ll have to do it right. And that means less rushing, fewer last-minute surprises, and a better chance to make a great first impression when you’re ready to sell.Thinking about selling in 2027? Get a local agent’s opinion on what your house needs, what it doesn’t, and how to get everything ready on your timeline.

It’s been nearly two decades since the 2008 housing crash, but the word “foreclosure” can still make people uneasy. And if you’re planning a move, you may be wondering if more foreclosures will flood the market with homes for sale – especially if you’ve seen the headlines lately.Buyers may be hoping for a rush of bargains. Sellers may be bracing for more competition. The latest data points to neither, and knowing why can help you plan your next move with confidence.A Modest Rise from a Low Starting PointCompleted foreclosures are up 33% from last year, according to ATTOM. That sounds like a big leap, but context helps.Even with that increase, foreclosures are still about 26% below where they were in the first half of 2020.Zoom out further, and today’s activity is a small fraction of what the market saw during the 2008 crash. Lenders completed about 28,000 foreclosures in the first half of 2026, according to ATTOM. Compare that to the crash years in red, when lenders often completed more than 200,000 in the span of a few months (see graph below):Experts say today’s numbers reflect a housing market that’s still in good shape. As Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM, explains:

“While some homeowners are still facing financial challenges, overall foreclosure volumes remain well below historical norms and the broader housing market continues to demonstrate resilience.”

And here’s why we can absorb the slight uptick in foreclosures we are seeing. Homes for Sale Are Back in a Balanced RangeDuring the crash, a lot of homeowners either lost their homes to foreclosure or were forced to sell, which left the market overwhelmed with houses for sale. That isn’t happening now.One way to see this is through months’ supply, which measures how long it would take to sell every home on the market at the current pace. Four to six months is considered balanced.Right now, it’s about 4.8 months, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That’s pretty well-balanced, and less than half of where it peaked around the last crash (see graph below):If foreclosures were really surging, you’d see it in the number of homes for sale. As Logan Mohtashami, Lead Analyst at HousingWire, explains:

“. . . a surge of actual foreclosures in 2026 would have easily put the inventory data much higher in 2026.”

Equity Gives Today’s Homeowners OptionsEquity is a big reason there’s no surge of distressed sales. Data from the Census Bureau and ATTOM shows nearly two in three homeowners have paid off their mortgage or have more than 50% equity. And Cotality says the average homeowner has about $310,000 in equity.If a homeowner with equity hits a rough patch, they can usually sell their house, pay off the loan, and walk away with money in their pocket instead of facing foreclosure. That’s an option many people didn’t have during the crash. According to HousingWire, nearly one in four homes were underwater back in 2010.Being underwater means owing more on your mortgage than your home is worth, which makes selling a lot harder. Today, just 2% of homeowners are considered seriously underwater (see graph below):Not every homeowner has that kind of equity, but most do, and that’s what puts a ceiling on how high foreclosures can go.Bottom LineIf rising foreclosures have you questioning where the housing market is headed, the data says it’s in good shape. The supply of homes for sale is balanced, and most homeowners have plenty of equity.Have questions about what you’re seeing online, your local market, or about how much equity you have? Talk to a local real estate agent.

If you’re a veteran or active-duty service member who’s been hoping to buy a home, you may have more going for you in today’s housing market than you realize.VA home loans already come with some pretty powerful benefits. But now, with more homes for sale and buyers having more room to negotiate in many markets, those benefits could go even further.And if you’ve ever heard that buying with a VA loan is harder, takes longer, or puts you at a disadvantage, there’s something else you should know… a lot of what people believe about VA loans simply isn’t true.The Benefits of VA Home Loans Today, nearly 4 million service members and veterans have an active VA home loan. And according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), more than 343,000 homes were purchased using VA loan benefits in its most recent reported fiscal year. And it’s easy to see why.For eligible veterans and service members, VA loans offer advantages that can make buying a home more affordable, including:No down payment required for many eligible borrowers.No monthly mortgage insurance, even with no down payment.Competitive mortgage rates that can help lower monthly payments.Benefits like this are powerful in any market – and even more so today. That may be why VA loan usage has grown for the last two years in a row.Why Today’s Market Could Be Different for VA BuyersA few years ago, when homes were getting multiple offers and buyers were competing for nearly every listing, VA buyers sometimes had a harder time getting their offers accepted.A 2021 survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), found 89% of sellers were likely to accept an offer from a buyer using a conventional loan. But only 30% were likely to accept one using an FHA or VA loan.The reason? Some sellers were concerned that VA financing would take longer, be more difficult to close, and require them to pay more in costs and repairs. But those concerns don’t necessarily reflect how VA loans actually perform.VA Home Loan Myths vs. Reality A white paper from Vetted VA based on 2025 mortgage data busted a lot of VA loan myths:Myth #1: VA loans get denied more often than other loans.The Reality: VA loans actually have the lowest denial rate. Just 8.2% of VA purchase applications were denied, compared to 15.0% for conventional loans, 12.8% for FHA loans, and 12.5% for USDA loans. Myth #2: VA financing is less reliable.The Reality: 90% of VA home loan applications that reached underwriting made it to closing, compared to 81% for conventional loans. Myth #3: VA appraisals take longer.The Reality: VA loan appraisals typically take 7–10 business days, similar to conventional and FHA loans.Myth #4: Sellers have to pay all the closing costs for VA buyers.The Reality: VA buyers can pay many standard closing costs themselves. Buyers and sellers can also negotiate which eligible costs the seller will cover.Today’s Market Gives VA Buyers More LeverageSince there are more homes for sale and fewer buyers competing in many areas, sellers may be more open to different financing options than they were a few years ago. And the opportunity doesn’t stop at getting your offer accepted.Depending on the house and your local market, you may also be able to negotiate a lower price, ask for repairs, or request help with closing costs.VA guidelines allow sellers to cover the buyer’s normal closing costs, plus concessions of up to 4% of the home’s value.Think about what that combination could mean. You may be able to buy with no down payment, avoid mortgage insurance, and negotiate help with some of the other expenses that come with buying a home.That could mean keeping thousands of dollars in your savings instead of spending them upfront, giving you more breathing room after you get the keys.Bottom LineIf you’re active duty, you’ve served, or you know someone who has, connect with a local agent and a trusted VA-approved lender to see what you qualify for.Your VA home loan benefit and today’s market could be a powerful combination.