"Should I wait to sell because of the Middle East?"

I got that question this week. It's a fair question. The world feels unsettling right now. But I also have to be honest with you, I've been a licensed real estate agent since 2013 and I grew up in a real estate family, and in all that time -- through the rise of ISIS, Syrian civil war, the Ukraine war, the war in Afghanistan, the Israel-Hamas conflicts, the Iran tensions -- not one single person ever asked me that question before.

Here’s what growing up in real estate and being active in real estate for 13 years in has taught me:

Housing markets are extremely local.

Global events, even wars we’re involved in, don't drive our neighborhood's home values. Local inventory does. Local jobs do. Mortgage rates do. It’s very much a localdecision rather than a global one. This isn’t just my observation -- nonpartisan economic research consistently backs it up.

Think about it -- through 9/11, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan years -- spanning both Republican AND Democratic presidents -- U.S. home values still moved based on supply, demand, and interest rates. Because what happens overseas doesn't change what a buyer is willing to pay for a home on your street. As long as we still have jobs and need a roof over our head, we’ll still want to buy and sell.

So why does it feel like geopolitics and real estate are suddenly connected?

Honestly, it's not the market telling you that. It's our feeds. The news, social media, and constant commentary in our pockets like never before. Global events feel closer and more personal than ever. But that FEELING doesn’t mean they’re ACTUALLY driving your LOCAL housing market.

Now is the Florida market perfect? What’s "perfect"? Some might argue a balanced market is perfect so neither side has an upper hand. Prices have been softening gradually for about three years. And that's actually the more important reason NOT to wait. Waiting for the world to calm down is not a strategy. The world has never fully calmed down! The first recorded conflict was Cain and Abel! That's a long time! Most people still buy and sell for deeply personal reasons – a growing family, a new job, better schools, a new season of life, being closer to the people they love. Real estate decisions are nearly always about our PERSONAL life, not geopolitics.

So if you’re wondering whether world events should affect your decision to buy or sell, the better question is often this:

What makes sense for YOUR life right now?

If you ever want to talk through the local market here in our area, our real estate agents are always happy to help. No pressure. Just information to help you make your own decision.