If you’ve been dreaming about building your own home in Reno, you might be wondering: is buying land really the more affordable route? The short answer is, it depends. Let’s break it
If You Gave Up on Buying a Home, Read This
Dated: January 9 2026
Views: 66
If you hit pause on your home search sometime over the last few years, you weren’t doing anything wrong. The market was tough. Choices were limited, competition was intense, and affordability felt… questionable at best.
But here’s the good news: things have shifted.
Today’s market is offering something buyers haven’t had in a while. Options.
More Homes, Less Pressure
One of the biggest changes is inventory. According to Realtor.com, there are 17% more homes for sale than this time last year. That means more variety, more flexibility, and fewer situations where you feel rushed into a decision that doesn’t quite fit.
More homes on the market also means buyers aren’t competing the way they were before. That frantic, everything-is-gone-by-Monday feeling has cooled.
Affordability Is Starting to Improve
Affordability hasn’t magically fixed itself, but it is moving in the right direction.
Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, points out that slower price growth combined with slightly lower mortgage rates is helping affordability improve and creating a window for buyers who’ve been waiting on the sidelines.
Translation: prices aren’t climbing the way they were, rates have eased from their highs, and the math is starting to make more sense for more people.
Buyers Have More Leverage
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, recently shared that buyers are in their strongest position in over five years, with inventory at its highest level since May 2020.
That doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all, but it does mean buyers have more room to negotiate, ask questions, and take their time.
So, Is It “The Perfect Time”?
There’s no such thing. But if you’ve been waiting for:
More homes to choose from
Less competition
A market that feels calmer and more balanced
This might be the moment worth paying attention to.
Even if you’re not ready to jump in tomorrow, understanding what’s changed puts you back in control. And that’s a pretty good place to be.
Sources: Realtor.com, Bright MLS, National Association of Realtors
Becca deLumeau
I waited way too long to buy my first home—convinced I wasn't "ready" and didn't know where to start. That hesitation cost me years of building wealth. Now my goal is to make sure others don't make ....
Latest Blog Posts
There has been more interest in purchasing land and waiting to build in the future. This gives people the flexibility to get the location that they want and to build a home to their specifications.
If you hit pause on your home search sometime over the last few years, you weren’t doing anything wrong. The market was tough. Choices were limited, competition was intense, and affordability
As a dedicated listing agent, I understand that timing and presentation are crucial factors in successfully selling your home. While the holiday season brings joy and festive decorations, it might
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity program of the Northern Nevada Regional Multiple Listing Service®. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than the owner of this site are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo and detailed information about those listings includes the name of the listing brokerage. Copyright 2026 of the Northern Nevada Regional Multiple Listing Service MLS. All rights reserved.
Incline Village Board of REALTORS® All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested
