Why Fall is an Underrated Time to Buy a Home
Here’s something I remind my clients all the time: there isn’t just one “right” moment to buy a home. The perfect moment doesn’t exist. What does exist are seasons—shifts in the market that create opportunities depending on where you are in your journey. And fall, especially here in Portland, tends to be one of those underrated times that can really benefit first-time buyers.
This isn’t about saying “fall is the best season ever, drop everything and buy now.” It’s about understanding what actually changes this time of year, and how those shifts might open up space for you to explore homeownership with a little more ease and clarity.
The Natural Rhythm of Portland’s Market
Real estate has a rhythm. Just like the seasons, there’s a flow that comes back around every year. Spring tends to be the hottest moment—lots of listings, lots of buyers, bidding wars, the works. Summer keeps that momentum going but often starts to stretch buyers thin, especially as vacations, heat, and big life events pop up.
By the time September rolls around, things naturally start to shift. Families with kids are focused on school again. Sellers who listed in the summer but didn’t get offers are still on the market, and more homes trickle in as people want to make a move before the holidays.
The result? You end up with more inventory hanging around than in July, but fewer buyers fighting over every single house. That balance is what makes fall feel different—less frantic, more spacious.
Why More Space Matters for First-Time Buyers
If you’re buying your very first home, space—mental, emotional, and financial—matters more than anything. It’s easy to feel pressured in the spring market, when houses are selling in days and you’re told you need to move right now or you’ll miss your chance. That energy can be overwhelming, especially if you’re still wrapping your head around down payments, loan programs, and whether you’re really ready.
Fall takes some of that pressure off. When there are fewer buyers competing, you have:
More time to actually think before writing an offer.
More space to negotiate with sellers.
More opportunity to ask for repairs or concessions.
More room to find a house that feels right, not just “good enough.”
That’s not to say homes sit forever—Portland is still Portland, and great houses will always draw interest—but the overall vibe shifts from scarcity to possibility.
Prices and Negotiation Power
Another trend that often shows up in the fall: prices cool down a little. Sometimes it’s because sellers get more realistic after testing higher numbers in the summer. Sometimes it’s because they want to close before the end of the year and are willing to be flexible.
That doesn’t always mean massive price cuts, but it can mean the difference between paying over asking versus being able to negotiate terms that fit your needs. For first-time buyers, that can be huge—because the extras matter.
Think about things like:
Getting closing costs covered.
Asking for repairs instead of paying out of pocket later.
Negotiating move-in timelines that actually work for you.
These little details can make the whole process feel calmer and more manageable. And fall is one of the seasons when those details are more likely to be on the table.
Mortgage Rates and the Bigger Picture
Of course, everyone wants to know: what about interest rates?
Right now, mortgage rates are trending lower than they were this past spring and summer. They’re still higher than the historic lows we saw a couple of years ago, but the recent dip has already made a noticeable difference in monthly payments. For a lot of my clients, that small shift creates just enough room to make the math start to work.
Will rates keep going down? Maybe. Maybe not. I like to remind my clients that the best time to buy is when you find a house you love and the payments make sense. Because let's be honest, the world is wild and rates fluctuate at a slower pace than what you may think. If it makes sense now, it will make sense later and when rates do finally come down, you can talk about refinancing with your lender.
Fall is a good time to take advantage of both the softer market and the lower rates we’re seeing right now.
How I Support First-Time Buyers Through This Season
When I work with first-time buyers in the fall, my focus is on creating calm. That means:
Helping you understand your financing options clearly (yes, you can buy with less than 20% down).
Walking through homes together with an eye toward both charm and red flags.
Talking through strategy—when to make an offer, when to wait, when to negotiate.
Reminding you that it’s okay to pause if it doesn’t feel right.
This is your journey, not mine. My role is to be your guide, your advocate, and sometimes just your sounding board as you navigate the process.
So—Is Fall the Right Time?
Maybe. Maybe not.
But if you’ve been wondering whether homeownership is possible for you, fall is a really good time to explore that question. Even just starting a conversation can help you understand your options better—and maybe discover that it’s closer within reach than you thought.
Because at the end of the day, buying your first home isn’t about chasing the perfect time. It’s about finding a home that feels like yours, in a moment that makes sense for you. And if that moment happens to be this fall? I’d love to help you find it.
