Inside February 2026 Insights on Real Estate:

1. The New Wish List: What Buyers Dream Of
2. Is Your Home Ready for Its Close-Up?
3. Home Staging Strategy: Show Off the Space, Not the Stuff
4. Trees and Shrubs Grow Home Value
5. 2026 Real Estate Market Outlook

Average 30-year mortgage rates dropped to near 6% in January. For buyers, lower rates mean the same-priced home costs less per month and you can often qualify for a higher price point with the same income. For sellers, it means increased demand, which puts you in a great position for cleaner negotiations and quicker offers.

 

Let’s connect and plan your next steps. Send us a DM!

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CA Real Estate Group | Caliber RE Group

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Christine Almarines @christine_almarines

714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

 

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor

949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675

 

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate

562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000

 

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas

Keeping Current Matters | Jan 26, 2026

When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:

• What’s wrong with it?
• Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?
• Am I missing something?

That mindset made sense a few years ago. But in today’s market, you may actually miss out.

More Time on Market Isn’t Automatically a Concern Anymore

A few years ago, homes sold in just a matter of days. Sometimes, hours. Anything that lingered longer than that raised concerns. But that’s no longer the baseline.

Inventory has grown. Buyers have more choices. And homes are taking longer to sell across the board. Those are some of the reasons why the typical time it takes a home to sell has climbed this year:

And it’s not that 73 days is slow. That’s actually pretty normal for this time of year. It just feels slow because you heard so much about houses being snapped up in the buying frenzy a few years ago.

That shift alone explains a lot of what you’re seeing. It’s not necessarily that there’s anything wrong with the house itself. Although, let’s be honest, sometimes that is the case.

Most of the time today, a house that’s taking longer to sell simply means:

• There are a lot of homes for sale in that area
• The seller priced a little too high at first
• The home didn’t photograph as well online
• Buyers passed it over for flashier listings nearby
• The timing just wasn’t right when it first hit the market

None of those are necessarily deal-breakers.

What Buyers Often Get Wrong About These Listings

Because even though you may assume a house that hasn’t sold must have hidden issues, the reality is, that’s not always the case. And, if the house does have issues, it’ll show up quickly in your inspection.

That’s information you can use to negotiate. Not a reason to walk away automatically. And in many cases, that’s where buyers find the best deals.

The key is knowing which homes that have been sitting for a while are worth a second look – and which ones aren’t. That’s why working with a local agent makes a real difference. They’ll be able to look at disclosures and more to help you uncover hidden gems other buyers may overlook.

Bottom Line

A home sitting on the market isn’t always a warning sign. Sometimes it’s an overlooked opportunity.

If you want help identifying which homes are worth a second look (and which ones to skip), talk to CARE Group.  DM one of us!

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CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate

Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944

Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
📱 949-391-8266 | DRE #02179675 (Hablo espanol)

Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
📱 562-879-4181 | DRE #02174000 (Hablo espanol)

Serving Buena Park, Cerritos, LA County, Orange County and all surrounding areas