As we enter January 2026, the “market crash” headlines that dominated social media in late 2025 have largely been proven wrong. Instead, the Orlando, Apopka, and Ocoee markets are entering a phase of “normalization.” Unlike the 2021 frenzy, we are now seeing a healthy 4.9-month supply of inventory—closer to the 6-month mark that defines a balanced market. This shift means that while home prices aren’t plummeting, they are finally stabilizing, with a projected 1.5% to 2% growth for the year. For buyers, the real win in 2026 isn’t a lower price tag; it’s the return of the inspection contingency and the ability to negotiate without competing against twenty other offers.
In neighborhoods like Winter Garden and Windermere, homes are now spending an average of 40 to 45 days on the market. This “inventory sit time” is a strategic goldmine for an incisive buyer. Sellers who listed in the fourth quarter of 2025 are now highly motivated to close before the spring rush, often offering to pay for 2/1 mortgage rate buydowns or significant closing cost credits. This shift from a seller-dominated market to a balanced one allows you to focus on the long-term value of the property rather than just “winning the bid.”
If you are waiting for 3% interest rates to return, you are likely waiting for a scenario that won’t happen in 2026. Experts see rates settling in the low-to-mid 6% range, which has become the “new normal.” When rates stabilize, even at these levels, pent-up demand usually floods the market by March or April. By moving in January, you beat the spring competition and lock in today’s prices before the seasonal uptick.
How Incisive Realty Can Help: At Incisive Realty, we specialize in finding the “stale” listings that have been overlooked by the general market. Our team provides an incisive analysis of “days on market” and seller psychology to help you negotiate deep credits that lower your interest rate. We don’t just find you a house; we build a financial strategy that secures your equity from day one in the 2026 Orlando market.