In Anthony’s 2026 Predictions for this year’s housing market, he shared why he believes this year would bring more listings and more sales as mortgage rates gradually ease and homeowners begin to move again. Now that February is behind us, we have our first real test of those predictions and the results are telling.
Despite one of the snowiest and coldest Februarys we’ve seen in years across Massachusetts and much of New England in over a decade, listing activity held up far better than expected. While the total number of homes listed in January and February did not exceed the same months in 2025, the decline was minimal given the extreme weather and dramatically different from what we saw during the last comparable winter.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Anthony ran the numbers for Massachusetts because the rest of New England activity is always similar to how Massachusetts performs. According to data from MLSPIN (Singles/Multis/Condos), here’s how February stacked up:
February 2025: 4,492 homes listed
February 2026: 4,096 homes listed
Difference: Down -9%, by 396 homes
Now compare that to the last time we experienced a February this severe, which was what was referred to as “Snowmaggedon“:
February 2014: 6,464 homes listed
February 2015: 4,489 homes listed
Difference: Down 1,975 homes (≈30.5%)
That roughly 20 percent decline is significant. Eleven years ago, weather like this dramatically suppressed listings. This year, it barely slowed sellers down.
To us, that signals something important: many homeowners are ready to sell.
Why This Matters for the 2026 Market
For more than three years, the primary reason for sluggish housing activity has been simple- homeowners didn’t want to give up their ultra-low pandemic mortgage rates. That created a historic “lock-in effect” and limited inventory. In fact, in the first half of 2023, we saw the lowest number of homes listed in recorded history.
But that trend began to loosen in 2025, when listings rose roughly 7.2% year over year. The February numbers suggest that momentum is continuing into 2026 even with brutal winter conditions.
This strengthens his confidence that inventory will rise meaningfully as we move into spring, exactly as he projected earlier this year.
Advice for Buyers Right Now
Buyer demand is extremely strong. We’re seeing it firsthand at Lamacchia Realty with phones ringing nonstop and packed open houses across the region.
If you’re shopping today:
- Be patient — more homes are coming
- But when the right home hits the market, be ready to strike
- Late winter and early spring always bring intense competition
If you prefer less competition and more negotiating power, summer and fall may offer better opportunities in the Northeast with the weather seasonality, but right now is when the best homes begin to appear.
Advice for Sellers: Timing Is Critical
If you’re considering selling this year, the message is simple: List as soon as possible.
Buyer demand is at its peak right now and will likely stay there for another 4–6 weeks. After that, demand slowly drops as buyers either secure homes or sign leases for another year.
This happens every year. Many sellers wait until late spring or summer because they want more choices for their next home, but by then:
- Competition from other listings increases
- Buyer urgency decreases
- Negotiating leverage weakens
Listing now gives you the strongest chance to:
- Maximize price
- Secure favorable terms
- Negotiate flexibility on closing or move-out timing
Final Thoughts
February gave us a preview of what’s ahead in 2026 and it reinforced exactly what he predicted earlier this year.
Inventory is coming.
Buyers are active.
And the market is waking up.
If you’re planning to buy or sell this year, the next several weeks could be the most important window of opportunity you’ll see. Click here to see a video of him explaining this.
Happy March, and happy home buying and selling!
The post 2026 Housing Market Update: February Data Reinforces My Predictions first appeared on Lamacchia Realty.