{"id":25920,"date":"2026-05-11T15:31:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/?p=25920"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:31:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:31:30","slug":"new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"New Homes vs. Existing Homes: Why the Housing Market Feels Split in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The 2026 housing market has a split personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On one side, builders are pumping out new homes with incentives, lower rates, and move-in-ready options. On the other, existing homeowners are still hanging onto those ultra-low mortgage rates from years ago \u2014 keeping resale inventory tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result? Buyers are shopping two very different markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Builders Are Stepping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>New construction is having a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Builders know affordability is the biggest challenge for buyers right now, so they\u2019re getting creative with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mortgage rate buydowns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Closing cost help<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smaller, more affordable floorplans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quick move-in homes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In many areas, buying a brand-new home can actually feel easier than competing for a resale property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, buyers love the perks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Energy-efficient designs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less maintenance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modern layouts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fewer bidding wars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Existing Homes Are Still Hard to Find<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many homeowners are staying put because they locked in mortgage rates around 3% a few years ago. Trading that for today\u2019s higher rates can mean a much bigger monthly payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But inventory is slowly improving as more people relocate, retire, or simply decide they can\u2019t wait forever to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Homes that are priced well are still moving fast \u2014 especially affordable homes in popular suburbs and growing cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Buyers Are Adjusting to Higher Rates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point, many buyers are realizing ultra-low pandemic rates probably aren\u2019t coming back anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of waiting, people are focusing on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Finding a home that fits their lifestyle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Buying before prices rise again<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refinancing later if rates drop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The market is also becoming more balanced. Buyers finally have a little more negotiating power than they did during the frenzy years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Ahead for 2026?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts expect the market to continue slowly improving this year with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More inventory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slightly lower mortgage rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slower price growth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better opportunities for buyers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The chaos of 2021 is gone, but the market isn\u2019t frozen anymore either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2026 is shaping up to be the year housing starts feeling \u201cnormal\u201d again \u2014 or at least a new version of normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> REALTOR\u00ae Magazine<br \/>\u201cNew, Existing Home Supplies Diverge\u201d<br \/>National Association of REALTORS\u00ae<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2026 housing market has a split personality. On one side, builders are pumping out new homes with incentives, lower rates, and move-in-ready options. On the other, existing homeowners are still hanging onto those ultra-low mortgage rates from years ago \u2014 keeping resale inventory tight. The result? Buyers are shopping two very different markets. Builders &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\/\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,8],"tags":[5,32,4,9],"class_list":["post-25920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-real-estate-tips","tag-anthony-didonato","tag-news","tag-real-estate","tag-tips","item-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New Homes vs. Existing Homes: Why the Housing Market Feels Split in 2026 - Real Estate Agent and Sales in PA - Anthony DiDonato Broomall, Media, Delaware County and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/964792b6994e8cc4cbddc36ad4824908\"},\"headline\":\"New Homes vs. Existing Homes: Why the Housing Market Feels Split in 2026\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-11T15:31:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-11T15:31:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":352,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/964792b6994e8cc4cbddc36ad4824908\"},\"keywords\":[\"Anthony DiDonato\",\"News\",\"Real Estate\",\"tips\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\",\"Real Estate Tips\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.anthonydidonato.net\\\/wordpress\\\/new-homes-vs-existing-homes-why-the-housing-market-feels-split-in-2026\\\/\",\"name\":\"New Homes vs. Existing Homes: Why the Housing Market Feels Split in 2026 - 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Skilled, smart and enthusiastic about his work and his life, Anthony DiDonato has the appealing combination of business sense and people skills gives him an edge in an industry that demands both. Educated at Drexel University with a dual major in accounting and finance and minors in management and psychology Anthony DiDonato offers over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. He has been a real estate investor since 1985 and a member of H.A.P.C.O. (Landlord Association). He became a licensed Realtor in 1992 and a member of the Local, Pennsylvania and National Associations of Realtors. Anthony DiDonato is also a member of the Computerized Multiple Listings, (MLS) and Internet Marketing Programs. In 1997 Anthony DiDonato became Century 21 All-Elite, Inc. Corporate Secretary. Anthony DiDonato believes in taking his profession to the highest level of quality service. 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