The Fall Real Estate Reset: What Minnesota Homeowners Should Know Before the Market Changes Again

There is something about fall that makes us look at our homes a little differently.

The days get shorter, the temperatures drop, and we naturally begin spending more time indoors. Suddenly, the things we may not have noticed during the summer become much more apparent.

Is the kitchen working well for everyday meals and holiday gatherings? Is there enough room for everyone to relax? Does the home feel comfortable when the weather turns cold?

And for some homeowners, those questions lead to another one:

That is one reason I like the beginning of fall as a time to take a fresh look at your real estate goals.

The Twin Cities market is also giving both buyers and sellers something new to consider this season. There are more homes available than there were a year ago, buyers have more opportunity to compare properties, and sellers need to be thoughtful about pricing and presentation.

What Is Changing in the Fall Market?

The Minnesota housing market is showing signs of becoming more balanced.

According to Minnesota Realtors®, the number of homes for sale statewide was up 10.3% year over year in August 2026, while new listings increased 7.1% statewide and 8.2% in the Twin Cities metro. At the same time, closed sales were down 2.1% statewide.¹

In the Twin Cities metro, August brought a median sales price of $405,000, 45 days on market and 3.1 months of housing supply. Inventory was up 10.7% from a year earlier.¹

For Sellers: The Fall Market Rewards Preparation

Selling a home in the fall does not mean you have missed your opportunity.

It means the details matter.

When buyers have more homes to compare, your property needs to make sense not only on paper, but from the moment they walk through the door.

That starts with pricing.

A home's value is influenced by its location, condition, improvements, comparable sales, competing inventory and current buyer demand. The right price is not simply the number a seller hopes to achieve. It is a number supported by the market.

And then there is presentation.

Fall is a good time to make sure the home is ready for the season ahead. Small maintenance items can become much more noticeable once temperatures drop.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce recommends paying attention to areas such as air sealing and insulation, windows and doors, and heating and ventilation systems as homeowners prepare for colder weather.³

A Few Things Sellers Should Consider This Fall

• Take care of deferred maintenance. A dripping faucet, drafty window or exterior repair may seem small, but buyers notice details.
• Pay attention to the first impression. Keep the entry welcoming, the landscaping maintained and the exterior looking cared for as the season changes.
• Make the home comfortable. Lighting becomes especially important as the days get shorter. A home should feel warm and inviting when buyers walk through it.
• Know the competition. Look at what buyers can choose from today, not just what similar homes sold for several months ago.

The broader market gives us information. Your specific home determines the strategy.

For Buyers: More Choices Can Mean More Time to Think

For buyers, one of the biggest changes this fall is having more homes to consider.

More inventory does not mean every home is negotiable, and it certainly does not mean every seller is motivated.

What it can mean is that buyers have more opportunity to compare homes based on what really matters to them.

You may have time to revisit a property. You may be able to compare neighborhoods more carefully. You may have more opportunity to think about condition, layout, location and long-term value rather than feeling like you have to make a decision immediately.

That can be valuable.

Mortgage rates remain an important part of the equation, too. Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.03% as of September 24, 2026, compared with 6.95% the previous week.²

For buyers, that means affordability should remain part of the conversation from the beginning. Rather than making a decision based on where you hope rates might be in the future, understand what a home costs under today's conditions and determine what works for your own financial picture.

Fall Is Also a Good Time to Pay Attention to How a Home Lives

One thing I always encourage buyers to do is slow down enough to notice the details.

Summer can make almost any home feel appealing. The windows are open, the landscaping is at its best and everyone is spending more time outside.

Fall gives you a different perspective.

How much natural light does the home receive?

How does the entry function when everyone comes home with coats, boots and bags?

Is there enough storage?

Does the kitchen have the workspace you need?

Is the layout comfortable when everyone is gathered inside?

Why Pricing Still Matters

A more balanced market does not make pricing less important.

In fact, when buyers have more options, pricing becomes even more important because buyers can compare.

If a home is priced appropriately and presented well, it has an opportunity to stand out.

If it is priced too high, the seller may lose some of the valuable early attention that comes when a property first hits the market.

Sometimes that means pricing higher.

Sometimes it means pricing more competitively.

Sometimes the best first step is making a few improvements before going to market. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

Did You Know?

Minnesota had 3.5 months of housing supply statewide in August, while the Twin Cities metro had 3.1 months.¹

Minnesota Realtors® notes that a well-supplied market is generally considered to have around five to six months of supply. So while buyers are seeing more inventory and gaining more breathing room, the market has not suddenly become oversupplied.¹

Holly's Perspective

I don't believe there is one perfect season to buy or sell a home.

There is the right time for you.

For some homeowners, fall may be the season when a move finally makes sense. Maybe your family has changed. Maybe you need more space. Maybe you're ready for less maintenance. Maybe you've simply realized that the home you've loved for years no longer fits the way you live.

For others, the right decision may be to stay put and prepare for a move later.

Either way, you do not have to figure it all out at once.

I like to start with the questions that matter most.

Where is your home located?

What is happening in your neighborhood?

What are buyers responding to?

What does the competition look like?

And most importantly, what are you hoping to accomplish?