The Right Time to Buy or Sell Isn’t a Market Headline. It’s a Personal Decision.

Scroll social media long enough and you’ll hear it on repeat:

“It’s a GREAT time to buy and sell!”

As a real estate agent, it would certainly be in my best interest to say that too.

But here’s the honest version:
There isn’t a universal “right time.” There’s only the right time for you.

Over the years, I’ve worked with:

Buyers who passed on the first house they truly loved because it felt “too soon,” only to wish they had trusted their gut.

Sellers who waited for years, not because they had a plan, but because life felt busy. Then, when a move became necessary due to health, finances, or family needs, the decision felt rushed and stressful.

Those experiences shape how I approach this work.

Not from urgency.
Not from headlines.
From clarity.

The Problem Isn’t Timing. It’s Lack of Structure.

Buying or selling feels overwhelming when people don’t understand the order of operations.

When you know:

• What matters first

• What can wait

• And what actually drives good outcomes

The process becomes manageable. Even calm.

Not easy. But clear.

A Common Example I See

People often say they want to “downsize.”

But many times, what they really want is:

• A different layout

• Fewer stairs

• Better functionality

• Less maintenance

Not necessarily less square footage.

Same thing with housing types.

“I don’t want a townhouse or condo” is something I hear a lot.

But once people understand the maintenance tradeoffs, monthly costs, and lifestyle differences, many realize they would actually be happier with less exterior responsibility and more time back in their life.

This is why labels can be limiting.

It’s rarely about the category of home.
It’s about how you want to live.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Decide Anything

These are the conversations I walk through with clients, regardless of market conditions:

1. Why do you want to move?
   Location, layout, monthly cost, maintenance level, accessibility, lifestyle, or a mix?

2. What do you like about where you live now?

3. What do you want to be different in the next place?

4. Are you financially and logistically positioned to buy or sell?
   Stable job, manageable debt, realistic expectations, and a clear picture of what borrowing would look like.

5. Do you trust your own decision-making?
   Are past regrets guiding you in a helpful way, or holding you back from making any decision at all?

That fifth question matters more than people realize.

Emotions from past choices can quietly steer current ones. A good agent doesn’t ignore that. But they also don’t let emotion override facts.

What a Good Agent Actually Does

A solid agent:

• Helps you look at the numbers

• Explains risks and tradeoffs

• Walks you through the full process before anything is rushed

• Protects your money

• Gives context, not pressure

Sometimes that leads to buying or selling soon.

Sometimes it leads to waiting.

Both are valid outcomes.

If Now Isn’t Your Time

You’re not behind.

You can:

• Declutter and simplify

• Save intentionally

• Improve credit

• Tackle small projects

• Learn the process ahead of time

Progress doesn’t always look like touring houses.

This is your purchase.
This is your sale.
This is your life.

The right time isn’t defined by a headline.

It’s defined by your goals, your finances, and your readiness.

And my job is to help you navigate that honestly, whenever that time is.