First-Time Buyers: The Best Week To Buy a Home in 2026 Starts September 27

Are you a first-time buyer wondering if this fall is the right time to buy? The calendar is on your side.

Mortgage rates have climbed. Affordability is harder. I won’t pretend otherwise. Every fall, though, a few market patterns show up and give buyers more room to work.

What the Data Says

Realtor.com studied housing data from 2018 through 2025. The 2026 Best Time to Buy report names September 27 to October 3 as the best week to buy a home this year. Here is what buyers historically see during this week, nationally:

•       More homes. Up to 31.9% more active listings than at the start of the year.

•       Lower prices. Listing prices about 3.5% below the summer peak. On a $416,000 median-priced home, you save roughly $14,000.

•       Less competition. About 30% fewer buyers viewing each listing compared to the peak.

•       More time. Homes sit about 13 days longer. You get time to think before you write an offer.

Good News for Twin Cities Buyers

Minneapolis is one of 14 large metros where the local best week lines up with the national one. September 27 to October 3 is our week too.

Minneapolis falls in the green group, where the local best week matches Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. Source: Realtor.com

In large metros with this alignment, buyers historically see 17.6% more listings than a typical week, 36.1% less competition than the peak, and listing prices 5.7% below peak levels.

One honest caution. The Midwest still runs tighter on inventory than the South and West. Here, your leverage tends to show up in terms, repairs, and seller-paid closing costs more than in a big price cut. Plan your offer strategy around those.

Rates Were Left Out of the Score

Realtor.com did not include mortgage rates in the ranking. Rates do not follow a seasonal pattern. A lower price helps, but your monthly payment still depends on your rate, your down payment, and your loan program.

This is where my team and I come in. When I review a first-time buyer’s file, I look at three things:

•       Down payment assistance. Minnesota has programs for first-time buyers. Know what you qualify for before you tour.

•       Seller-paid costs. A seller whose home has sat an extra two weeks is more open to covering closing costs or a rate buydown.

•       The right loan. Conventional, FHA, or, if you are self-employed, a bank statement loan based on your deposits instead of your tax returns.

You Have All of October

You do not need to hit one exact week. Look at the trend below. Conditions stay in the buyer’s favor through September and October.

Best Time To Buy score over the year. Source: Realtor.com

According to Realtor.com, 42 of the 50 largest metros hit their best week within a month of the national date. Buyers focused on selection tend to do better earlier in the season. Buyers focused on price often find more savings later in the fall, as demand slows toward the holidays.

Your First-Time Buyer Checklist for This Fall

•       Get fully pre-approved. Have your income and assets reviewed up front. Sellers take a verified offer more seriously.

•       Know your payment. Set the monthly number you are comfortable with. Your max approval is a ceiling, not a target.

•       Ask about assistance. Down payment and closing cost help takes time to line up. Start now.

•       Pick your agent. Be ready to tour the day the right home lists.

For My Agent Partners

Have a first-time buyer waiting for the right moment? Send them to me this week. My team will get their file underwritten before September 27, so your offers go in strong and close on time.

Bottom Line

Rates are higher than buyers want. The fall calendar still gives you more homes, less competition, and more room to negotiate. In the Twin Cities, the best week starts September 27. Let’s get you ready before then.

Want to know what you qualify for? Call or text me at 612-202-1731, or start your pre-approval at lisawellsloans.com.

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