The end of a year always invites a pause. Not the rushed kind, but the intentional one—where you look back honestly before stepping forward with hope.

This past year didn’t move the way many of us expected. The beginning came in with momentum, optimism, and plans that felt familiar. And then somewhere in the middle, the pace shifted. The market slowed. Summer arrived without the usual flurry that so many of us in real estate are accustomed to. It took some getting used to—not because slower is bad, but because it was different

There’s a subtle shift happening — the kind you can feel before you even read it in the headlines. After a long stretch of hesitation, whispers of optimism are floating through the housing market again.

It’s Sunday afternoon and after hearing of Diane Keaton’s passing, I feel a post talking about her incredible presence, talent and style just felt right or the Sunday blog.

I mean, when an icon like Diane Keaton departs, we lose more than a screen presence. We lose a rare voice in how we live — a woman who treated homes not as backdrops but as endings, beginnings, and everything in between.

If you’ve been wondering what’s really happening in the Columbia housing market, let’s chat about it like we’re catching up over coffee and today.

Lately, homes are taking a little longer to sell. Think more slow pour than espresso shot. On average, houses are sitting for about a month or more before going under contract. That’s a big shift from the blink-and-you-miss-it market we saw not too long ago.

If you have a 3% mortgage rate, you’re probably pretty hesitant to let that go. And even if you’ve toyed with the idea of moving, this nagging thought may be holding you back: “why would I give that up?”