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?”

Every week, it seems like the headlines change:
Are prices too high? Will rates ever drop? Is the market about to crash?

It’s a lot — and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But here’s the truth that doesn’t make the front page nearly enough: real estate has always been about playing the long game — and it's still one of the most reliable ways to build long-term wealth.

Some weeks are a blur. Others give you the kind of moments that linger — a perfect meal, a sidewalk chat, the kind of light that makes even your errands feel cinematic. This week in Columbia, I found beauty in the rhythm, goodbyes that felt like love letters, and enough flavor to make a girl forget to take a single photo