What To Know If You’re Making a Move in 2026
Moving Fort Wayne · Episode 11
What To Know If You’re Making a Move in 2026
Brad Noll answers the question he is hearing everywhere as 2026 begins: is this the year to make a move? He walks through what national forecasters expect, from a normalizing market and gradually easing rates to pent-up demand, and explains why life changes, not headlines, should drive the decision and why January is a smart time to start planning.
▶ Listen to the episodeKey Takeaways
- Life changes drive moves, not markets. Brad says about 90% of moves come from lifestyle changes. Rates and inventory will always shift, but the real reason to move is a home that no longer fits.
- Forecasters see a normalizing market. Many sources describe 2026 as something like 2019: not a boom and not a bust, with more choices for buyers and more competition for sellers.
- You are not stuck with your rate. Brad and his wife have refinanced five or six times in 18 years as rates, programs, and their own circumstances changed.
- Pent-up demand is still out there. Brad notes the U.S. has recently seen about as many transactions as in 1993, with 80 million more people, and many young adults are still living at home.
- January is a smart time to plan. Goals are fresh and finances are visible. Planning early does not mean committing, and it leads to calmer, better sequenced moves.
- Intentional moves beat reactive ones. Overpricing, under preparing, and rushing decisions cost money. Intentional planning starts with asking what season you are in and what comes next.
Chapters
- 00:00Is 2026 the year to make a move?
- 01:50Three core beliefs
- 04:44What the 2026 data says
- 05:38A normalizing market
- 07:05Rates expected to gradually ease
- 07:45Pent-up demand and life events
- 09:52The lifestyle changes behind most moves
- 11:47Why January is a smart time to plan
- 15:06Why introductions matter
- 17:38Is 2026 your year to move?
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Is 2026 the Year to Move? What Fort Wayne Homeowners Should Know
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