Our 2027 Game Plan: Why I’m Saying Buy Now (or Remodel Smart) — don’t sleep on this market

Alright, here’s how I’d play 2027 if I were you: the housing market is shifting from a relentless seller’s treadmill to something friendlier to buyers — at least in most metros. I walk you through the numbers we’ve been watching (Redfin’s gap, inventory creeping up, average time on market around 33 days) and explain why mortgage rates in the mid-to-high sevens aren’t apocalypse-level — they’re just the new normal compared to the dreamy 3% era. I also tell it straight about deferred maintenance: water is the slow killer of houses, and if you let caulking, roofing and exterior wood slide for years you’ll pay way more later. So we talk trade-offs: buy now if your lease is ending and you can lock a deal; otherwise consider smart renovations if you’re sitting on a low-rate mortgage or want to avoid risky landlord laws in your area. I get a little personal — we’re fighting a Hvac saga with Lennar and I’ve been to the Mayo Clinic for a week (thanks for the patience) — because real decisions are always messy and human. Then I pivot to practical, high-ROI moves: fix deferred maintenance, consider turning a house into a rental only in markets where landlord protections make sense, and don’t let interest-rate fear freeze you. TL;DR: be strategic, not panicked. If you’re a millennial tired of renting, there are deals out there; if you own, prioritize maintenance and energy checks so you’re not caught off guard when market or utility shocks hit.

Takeaways:

• I’m telling you: 2027 looks like a buyer’s market in many places — more inventory and seller concessions mean if you can escape a lease, now’s a smart time to pounce.
• We keep saying it on the show: water and deferred maintenance will quietly ruin your house — I beg you, fix roofs, caulking, and siding before small stuff becomes a teardown drama.
• If you’re remodeling, I’d reserve your quartz slabs today — California might ban man‑made quartz, and I’m expecting a 60–90 day sell-through scramble that could mess with your timeline.
• I don’t hate quartz, but silica dust is a real worker health crisis — ask fabricators about wet cutting, vacuums, StopAct certification, and take a shop tour so I don’t have to scold anyone later.
• Listen up: tariffs could hit imported cabinets and upholstered goods hard on January 1, 2027 — I’d buy now or choose Made‑in‑USA pieces unless you enjoy surprise sticker shock.
• We’re seeing real kitchen shifts: I love the return of defined zones, back kitchens, concealed appliances, two‑tone islands, plus practical resilience like leak detection and backup power.
• Energy reality check from me: heating oil prices are way up and electricity isn’t cheap either — tune your furnace, consider fuel swaps, and install whole‑house safety systems before bills give you heartburn.

Links referenced in this episode:

• aroundthehouseonline.com

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