If you’ve been watching the real estate game from the bench—curious, cautious, maybe waiting for the right signal—you’re not alone. For the past couple of years, buyers and sellers alike have stood on the sidelines, hesitant to make a move in an unpredictable market. Interest rates rose sharply, inventory remained tight, and uncertainty became the uninvited referee calling timeouts on everyone’s plans. But lately, something’s shifting. From where I sit—in luxury boardrooms as the Executive Director of Real Luxury and in conversations with agents and clients across more modest markets—the momentum is starting to build. The sidelines are getting crowded, and the opportunity is now back on the field.
In recent months, my conversations with top advisors, investors, and agents from coast to coast have started to sound different. In the luxury space, confidence is quietly returning. Ultra-high-net-worth buyers and family offices who’ve been in “wait and see” mode are now scanning for value and opportunity. The conversations have evolved from “should we?” to “where should we?” and that’s a subtle but powerful shift. When buyers start talking about positioning instead of pausing, you know the next play is already being drawn up. I’m seeing this same energy reflected in markets like Los Angeles, Aspen, Bozeman, and Miami, where inventory is slowly opening up and sellers are becoming more eager to get deals done. There’s a new willingness to engage, to negotiate, and to move capital off the sidelines.
But it’s not just a luxury trend. Across the broader U.S. housing market, early indicators suggest that momentum is building at every level. The U.S. median home price recently hovered around $410,800, representing a modest softening that’s giving buyers some breathing room. New home sales have surged—up to roughly 800,000 units on a seasonally adjusted basis as of late summer—the highest level since early 2022. National inventory is rising too, up about 8.6% year over year, according to Redfin, with Realtor.com reporting that April marked the 18th consecutive month of inventory gains, up 30.6% from the year before. These aren’t just numbers—they’re signs of life. They show that while many are still on the sidelines, the players already on the field are finding more room to maneuver and better plays to call.
That sentiment was echoed in a recent conversation I had with Globl/Real Advisor Don Cramer in Las Vegas, a market that’s always been a great barometer of national real estate energy. Don shared that he’s seeing more buyers reemerge—both local and out-of-state—looking to take advantage of opportunities that others are still hesitating on. Active listings in Las Vegas have risen nearly 37% since last fall, yet months of inventory have only slightly expanded from 4.4 to 4.6, showing that while there’s more to choose from, demand hasn’t disappeared. The median home price there hovers around $425,000, and creative deal-making is alive and well. As Don and I agreed, those stepping onto the field early are finding less competition, better terms, and stronger positions before the inevitable surge that comes when confidence fully returns.
So why are so many still stuck on the sidelines? For some, it’s the fear of rising interest rates. For others, it’s uncertainty around values or the emotional weight of potentially making a wrong move. But in real estate—as in sports—momentum rewards those who act, not those who observe. Sitting out feels safe, but you can’t score points from the bench. The field right now still has open lanes. There’s less competition, more negotiable pricing, and sellers who are finally open to creative terms. The ones who get in the game now will be the ones ahead when the whistle blows and the crowd rushes back in.
We’ve been through a season of hesitation, but the next season is about action. Whether you’re a buyer considering your next move, a seller waiting for “perfect timing,” or an agent guiding clients through this evolving landscape, the message is the same: opportunity lives on the field, not the sidelines. The crowd is starting to rise, the noise is building, and the plays are being called. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions—the best athletes and the best investors know that games are won in the moments when others hesitate. Get off the bench, lace up, and step back onto the field. The opportunity is already in play—and before long, the field will be full again.
At your service, Globl CEO, Kofi Nartey, Kofi(at)GloblRED(dotted)com & Las Vegas Globl Advisor, Don Cramer, Don(at)GloblRED(dotted)com