Where Southwest Washington Sellers Stand in 2026

By Jacqueline Smith

Jacqueline Smith is dedicated to serving the vibrant Vancouver/Portland real estate market. Since stepping into the industry in 2014, I hit the ground running selling 52 homes in my first year and now have my hand in selling over 1700 properties.

If you have been wondering what is happening in the Southwest Washington real estate market, here is what we are seeing right now. Inventory is increasing, and buyers have more options and more negotiating power than they have had in some time.

For homeowners, that naturally raises a question about value, so let us address it directly.

Values are holding steady, and may even be rising slightly. Despite the additional inventory, home values are not declining; if anything, there may be a slight year-over-year increase, which is reassuring for owners. So while buyers have more to choose from, that hasn’t come at the expense of your equity.

The homes that are selling all share three things in common. This is the heart of it. In today’s market, the homes that sell are not selling by accident.

• First, they are priced really well.
• Second, they show well. This is not 2021, when you could place almost any home on the market without doing the prep work and still expect it to move. If you skip that preparation now, you will have to adjust your price to account for it.
• And third, the homes that sell offer incentives to compete with the new construction homes that are out there right now.

That competition from builders is the biggest factor sellers are up against. A lot of builders are offering incredible incentives to buyers at the moment, and many of those incentives get buyers into much lower interest rates. When you compare the numbers apples to apples, a buyer could step into a brand new house for roughly the same monthly payment as an older home that might need some work. So if there is no clear reason to choose your home over the new one, buyers will go with the shiny new construction and its incentives. That is the reality of the current market.

None of this means you cannot get a great price for your home. It simply means you have to be intentional. Working with an agent who builds a strong marketing strategy and positions your home well the moment it hits the market is what makes the difference between competing with new construction and being overlooked beside it.

If you have any questions about your home’s value, or if you are a buyer considering a purchase or a move in this market, please reach out to us. We would love to talk real estate with you, answer any questions you have, and discuss strategy.

Call or text us at 360-800-1334 or email us at jacqueline@evergreenrealestatepartners.com, and you can also visit blog.evergreenrealestatepartners.com. We look forward to helping you make your next move with confidence.