The best time to buy a home is almost here with tons more listings to browse and thousands in savings

House hunters who spent the summer getting outbid or balking at sky-high prices may finally be getting their moment.The best time to buy a home in 2026 is the week of Sept.27 through Oct.

3, when buyers are expected to find a rare combination of lower prices, more homes to choose from and fewer rivals fighting over them, according to a new Realtor.com analysis.And for buyers ready to make a move, the seasonal slowdown could translate into some serious savings.A typical home shopper could save roughly $14,000 compared with this year’s summer price peak, based on a median-priced home of about $416,000.But price isn’t the only advantage.Buyers are expected to have 13.3% more active listings to choose from than during an average week — and nearly 32% more than they had at the beginning of the year.At the same time, competition from other house hunters historically drops 30.1% from its annual peak during the best buying week.That means buyers who spent the spring and summer racing to open houses and worrying about competing offers may have more room to take their time — and potentially negotiate.Homes are expected to sit on the market for roughly 64 days during the sweet spot, about 13 days longer than during the year’s fastest-moving period.That slower pace can give shoppers more time to inspect a property, weigh their options and potentially negotiate with sellers who have watched their homes linger on the market.Price cuts are also more common around this point in the calendar.Historically, an average 5.7% of homes see their asking prices reduced during the best week.So how should buyers take advantage?For those whose biggest priority is having choices, the answer may be to start shopping sooner rather than later.Fresh listings tend to be more plentiful earlier in the fall, meaning buyers with a long wish list — whether that’s a certain neighborhood, school district or number of bedrooms — are more likely to find a home that checks their boxes.But ba...