Pent-Up Demand Explosion - 2026 Will Be Insane

#RealEstate2026, #HousingMarket, #sellyourhome, #HomeBuyingTips, #MortgageRates, #RealEstatePodcast

Grab your coffee (and maybe a Christmas donut) — it’s time for Coffee With Real Estate!

In this episode, Susan and Kurt unpack the massive shift coming in 2026: a jaw-dropping 88% of prospective buyers say they’re very or somewhat likely to purchase next year, after 71% delayed their plans in 2024–2025. Years of high rates, election uncertainty, and negative headlines created the perfect storm of pent-up demand — and now that 30-year rates are dipping below 6% (one client just locked 5.83%!), the dam is about to break.

We dive into fresh data: why Gen Z and millennials are willing to pay 5–10% premiums for lifestyle amenities (think 24/7 gyms, pickleball courts, community gardens, and even podcast rooms), why 80% rank safety as non-negotiable, and why suburbs are crushing city living 51% to 32%. We also talk psychology — how perception (not reality) kept buyers frozen, and how FOMO will drive the 2026 rush.

Susan drops actionable advice: get pre-approved NOW, because the post-holiday flood starts in January. Sellers? Inventory is about to get swallowed whole.

And because it wouldn’t be Coffee With Real Estate without a little fun, we close with travel bucket lists (Tokyo vs. Dubai) and a hilariously terrifying detour into why Johannesburg is NOT making the cut (pothole jacuzzis, hijacking warning signs, and a city that literally gave up collecting tolls).

If you’re buying, selling, or just love real estate and donuts, this episode is your 2026 wake-up call. Subscribe and let’s ride this wave together