It’s part of the everyday experience for buyers, sellers, and agents in 2026. From the moment you start browsing homes online to the day you close, artificial intelligence is quietly working behind the scenes to make the process faster, smarter, and more personalized. But like any major shift in technology, it comes with both advantages and trade-offs that are worth understanding.

On the positive side, AI has made home searching dramatically more efficient. Instead of scrolling through hundreds of listings, buyers now receive highly tailored recommendations based on their behavior, preferences, and even subtle patterns like how long they linger on certain photos. Virtual assistants can answer questions instantly, schedule showings, and provide property insights at any hour of the day.

For sellers, AI has improved pricing strategies and marketing in powerful ways. Advanced algorithms analyze market trends, neighborhood data, and buyer demand to suggest competitive listing prices with greater accuracy than ever before. Listing descriptions, social media posts, and even targeted ads can now be generated and optimized in seconds, helping homes reach the right audience faster.

AI-powered tools have also enhanced the visual experience of real estate. Virtual staging, 3D tours, and even AI-generated renovations allow buyers to envision a property’s full potential without ever stepping inside. This is especially helpful for out-of-town buyers or those trying to narrow down options before touring in person.

However, not everything about AI in real estate is perfect. One of the biggest concerns is the potential loss of the human touch. Real estate is deeply personal. Buying or selling a home is often tied to major life moments. While AI can provide data and efficiency, it can’t fully replace the empathy, intuition, and negotiation skills of a great agent.

There’s also the question of accuracy and bias. AI systems rely on data, and if that data is flawed or incomplete, the recommendations can be off. In some cases, algorithms may unintentionally reinforce pricing disparities or overlook unique property features that don’t fit typical patterns.

Privacy is another growing concern. AI tools often collect and analyze user behavior to improve recommendations, which means more personal data is being tracked than ever before. While this can lead to a better experience, it also raises questions about how that data is stored and used.

Additionally, the rise of AI has lowered the barrier to entry for information, which can be both empowering and overwhelming. Buyers and sellers now have access to more data than ever, but without proper guidance, it can lead to confusion or overconfidence in automated insights.

For real estate professionals, AI is a double-edged sword. It can streamline workflows, reduce administrative tasks, and free up time to focus on clients. At the same time, it’s pushing agents to evolve quickly and prove their value beyond what technology can offer.

The reality is that AI works best when it’s used as a tool, not a replacement. The most successful real estate experiences in 2026 happen when technology and human expertise work together. AI can handle the heavy lifting of data and automation, while agents bring strategy, advocacy, and a personal touch to the table.

As a consumer, the key is to embrace the convenience of AI while staying grounded in human guidance. With so many changes in the real estate landscape, having a knowledgeable agent by your side matters more than ever, and the team at Best Home Realty would love to help you navigate it all with confidence.

Real estate is changing, but at its core, it’s still about people, relationships, and finding the right place to call home. AI is simply reshaping how we get there.

Every spring I get the same question from homeowners: “Is now a good time to sell?”

The truth is, spring has always been one of the busiest seasons in real estate. Buyers tend to come out in larger numbers, families want to move before the next school year, the weather is nice, and homes often show their best when landscaping begins to bloom.

But today’s market isn’t exactly the same as it was a few years ago.  Prices have decreased, Interest rates have held steady, buyer expectations about what they can afford, and the way agents are compensated have all changed in the past few years. That means homeowners need a strategy—not just a sign in the yard.

Here are a few things we’re advising sellers to focus on in 2026:

Price strategically from day one.
Buyers today are educated. They’re watching the market closely, and overpricing usually leads to longer days on market. Pricing your home based on the condition of the property is KEY.

Presentation matters more than ever.
Clean homes with great photos, proper staging, and strong marketing still outperform the competition.  The home doesn't have be totally remodeled, it just needs to be clean and priced for the condition.

Understand buyer compensation.
Many sellers today are choosing not to offer compensation to buyer representation upfront. However, buyers are negotiating for that in the contract because it helps buyers be able to afford to purchase the home.

If you’re even thinking about selling this year, the best first step is simply understanding what your home might sell for in today’s market.  Reach out today and I would be happy to schedule a personal tour of your home and help you understand the pricing.  Once you have that information, we can help guide you through the process based on your specific goals and needs.

Check us out online at www.BestHomeRE.com

As a volunteer leader within the Texas real estate profession, I have served for many years on the Board of Directors for our state association - Texas REALTORS.  Many of those board meetings included a detailed report on our past, and a robust future projection for the real estate market presented by the Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. 

This post will capture some data from their 2026 projections, as well as a glimpse into the past 12 months of  Texas real estate.

Recap as of December 2025

Texas has 8 million single family detached units and another 300,000 attached units (total of 3.8M single family homes.  2025 had a weak start, and before the year end final numbers are finalized, the projection is to close about 340,000 units.  Easing mortgage rates helped with buyer affordability, and persistent inventory pressure created buyer-friendly conditions in many parts of the state. Home prices continue to show signs of broad weakening across the state. Home prices trends pointed to a year-ending $330,000 median sales price. Single-family rents softened and are expected to be $2,100 per month at year end.

With that in mind, here is where the experts think we are headed in the 2026 Texas real estate market.

   - Anticipate a 1% increase in housing starts with single-family permits landing around 155,000 in 2026.

   - Price reductions to offset inventory growth, combined with falling interest rates could contribute to a 2.5% increase in sales (of new and existing homes).

   - Prices to remain flat or see a slight increase of approximately 1.3% which projects the median price to land at $334k.

   - Rental rates to increase slightly and land around $2,200. 

With the current outlook showing modest signs of growth, it appears that the 2026 real estate market may look much like the 2024 and 2025 markets across Texas.  As real estate is generally cyclical and some experts say those cycles can shift every 4-5 years on the low end, or up to 10-15 years on the high end.  If that's true, and we are headed into year 3 of this buyer-friendly market in Texas.  If you are planning to purchase a home, NOW is a great time to make a move.  It seems that we have a few more years of slow growth before the next shift into a more seller-friendly market.

To view their entire report from the Real Estate Research Center, visit https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/2026-texas-real-estate-forecast/

If you want more info like this about the housing market in Texas (or specific details about North Texas communities like Plano, McKinney, Dallas, Rockwall) then follow us on social media or check out our Youtube channel.

Why Hiring a Real Estate Agent in the New Year Is a Smart Move

A new year brings fresh goals, new beginnings, and for many, the desire to buy or sell a home. While it may be tempting to navigate the real estate process on your own, the truth is that having a professional agent by your side can make all the difference—especially in today’s ever-changing market.

The Market Is Constantly Evolving

Real estate is not a “set it and forget it” industry. Interest rates shift, inventory fluctuates, and local market conditions can change quickly. A licensed real estate agent stays on top of these trends daily, helping you make informed decisions instead of emotional or costly ones.

Negotiation Matters More Than Ever

Whether you’re buying or selling, negotiation is key. An experienced agent knows how to structure offers, navigate multiple-offer situations, and advocate for your best interests. This can mean saving (or earning) thousands of dollars—far more than going it alone.

Guidance, Protection, and Peace of Mind

Contracts, disclosures, inspections, timelines—real estate involves a lot of moving parts. An agent ensures everything is handled correctly and legally, reducing stress and minimizing risk. Think of your agent as both your guide and your protector throughout the entire process.

Access You Can’t Get on Your Own

From off-market opportunities to trusted lenders, inspectors, and contractors, agents bring a network that benefits you from start to finish. These connections often lead to smoother transactions and better outcomes.

Start the Year Strong

If buying or selling a home is part of your new year goals, don’t leave it to chance. Partnering with a knowledgeable real estate agent sets you up for success, clarity, and confidence—so you can focus on what matters most: your next chapter.

New year. New goals. The right representation makes all the difference.

As temperatures finally cool down in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, fall and early winter are the ideal times for homeowners to prepare their property for the colder months ahead. North Texas weather can be unpredictable: warm one week, freezing the next. A little seasonal maintenance now can save you major headaches later.

1. Service Your Heating System Before the First Cold Snap
DFW winters may be mild overall, but when freezes hit, they hit fast. Have your furnace inspected, replace air filters, and make sure your thermostat is functioning properly. This helps your system run efficiently and ensures your home stays comfortable.

2. Protect Pipes from Sudden Freezes
North Texas isn’t known for deep cold, but the hard freezes we do get can cause major pipe damage. Wrap exposed outdoor pipes, disconnect and drain garden hoses, and know how to locate your home’s water shutoff valve just in case.

3. Clean Gutters After Fall Leaves Drop
Even though North Texas trees don’t always have dramatic fall color, they do shed. Clogged gutters can cause roof leaks and foundation issues, especially during winter rainstorms. Clear debris and make sure downspouts drain properly.

4. Inspect Your Roof Before Winter Storms
Hail and storms are common year-round in DFW, and small roof issues can turn into big leaks fast. Check for missing shingles, cracked flashing, and any signs of wear. A quick visual inspection—or professional check—goes a long way.

5. Check Weatherstripping to Keep Energy Bills Down
Cold fronts can drop temps by 30 degrees in a day, and drafty windows and doors make it harder to keep your home warm. Replace worn weatherstripping and seal gaps to boost comfort and efficiency.

6. Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
With heaters running more often, it’s especially important to make sure detectors are working properly. Replace batteries and test devices at least once per season.

7. Prepare Outdoor Spaces & Landscaping
Trim back shrubs and trees, especially limbs that hang near your roof or power lines. Cover delicate plants on freeze nights, and adjust sprinkler systems to avoid frozen or broken lines.

A little preparation now can help North Texas homeowners avoid expensive repairs and stay comfortable all winter long. 

We hope that all of this information is helpful to you as you consider making your next move.  If you are in the North Texas area, our agents would love to help you with your next real estate purchase or sale. 

Sometimes it's an extreme seller's market, then we slide into a buyer's market, and somewhere in the middle is a balanced real estate market.  It's so important for the agents to understand it, so they can then explain things to a consumer.  Here is my guide to both, agents & consumers, about how to understand the real estate market - no matter what it's doing.  

Supply & Demand

This is the primary thing to understand about real estate markets.  They are always built on supply and demand.  Different things drive the supply such as builders creating more homes to choose from, sellers deciding to sell for various reasons, economic outlooks, and seasonality.  All of these contribute to the supply side of the equation.  As for demand, there are plenty of drivers of this too.  Things like affordability, interest rates, jobs market numbers, economic outlooks, and again seasonality.  

If we have too much demand, and not enough supply - the market will become a seller's market and home prices will be able to increase.  This is great for home sellers as they can get top dollar for their home.  However, when the prices get too high, and the other economic factors become an issue, this leads to housing affordability being a concern.

If we have plenty of supply, and not enough demand - the market shifts to a buyer's market.  Home prices must decrease in order for buyers to be willing or able to take advantage of purchasing a home.  Sometimes the demand is low because interest rates are high.  Other times, demand is low because the home prices are too high.  Either way - when buyers don't feel comfortable with the house payments, they decide to stay where they are (renting, living with family/friends, or maybe even just not selling to make a move).

Months of Supply

Sometimes you will hear someone talk about the "inventory" of homes available. Inventory just means all the listings currently for sale in the market area.  If someone mentions the "months supply" of houses, they may be measuring if it's a buyer or seller market.  The concept is simple....If no other homes hit the market in a specific area, how long (how many months) would it take to sell all of the existing listings.  Since the answer is calculated in months - it's called "months supply" of homes.  A balanced real estate market typically has 4-6 months of inventory.  When we have a lower month's supply of homes, we are in a seller's market (lower supply).  Typically anything at 4-months or less is a seller's market.  Conversely, when you have 6 or more months of inventory (high supply) it's considered a buyer's market because there isn't enough demand from buyers to purchase the properties available.

Formula: Total Number of Properties for Sale DIVIDED BY Total Number of Properties Sold in the Previous Month.

Absorption Rate

This is similar to Months Supply of housing.  When looking at the Absorption Rate, we generally consider the past 12-months of sales.  This gives a broader overview and a longer-term perspective on the market.  The Absorption Rate measures how quickly properties are sold and is usually viewed as a percentage of total listings sold per year. A high absorption rate signifies a seller's market with high demand, while a low absorption rate indicates a buyer's market with lower demand.  An Absorption Rate above 20% is considered to be a seller’s market, and 15% or less is considered a buyer’s market. A balanced market would be anywhere between 15-20%.

Formula: Number of Units Sold DIVIDED BY Total Number of Units on the Market MULTIPLIED BY 100.

Example: If 120 homes sold out of 380 on the market last year, the absorption rate is 31.5% (120/380 x 100).

Pricing Strategies

It’s so important for a consumer to really spend time working with their agent on pricing BEFORE they hit the market.  The agent can provide comparable sales data, pricing trends, and absorption rate or months supply of inventory.  All of these things, along with the location, quality, and condition of the home should be considered.  

In a buyer’s market, overpricing your home from the start makes it hard to catch back up with the market.  Being careful and thoughtful (and not too emotional) in deciding a listing price is key.  If you don’t price it right, you will likely end up “chasing” the market by making price adjustments too little or too late (or both), which causes your property to sit on the market longer.

In a seller’s market, you may have the ability to “push” the market and list slightly higher than the past comparable sales because the market is trending up.  This keeps you competitive, while still getting the highest return on your investment.

I hope that all of this information is helpful to you as you consider making your next move.  If you are in the North Texas area, our agents would love to help you with your next real estate purchase or sale.  If you are outside of our service area, reach out to me anyway.  I have met so many amazing agents in my real estate travels.  I will be happy to connect you with a great agent anywhere in the US.  It’s important to hire an agent who truly understands the market and how it shifts. 

Texans are getting some property tax relief this year.  Just a couple of years ago, REALTORS advocated for increasing the "Homestead Exemption" in Texas.  In 2025, with rising home ownership costs in mind, the REALTORS did it again!  

The tax relief that was passed during the 89th Legislative Session in Texas increases the statewide residential homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000.  As an added bonus, seniors and disabled homeowners who claim the "Over 65/Disabled" exemption receive an additional $60,000, bringing their total exemption to $200,000.  This is a huge win for home owners across Texas.

In addition to helping homeowners with affordability, the new laws help small business owners too.  For small businesses, thee is a massive increase in the business personal property tax exemption - which is increasing from $2,500 to $125,000.  This is a huge win for small business owners in Texas.

These provisions do require voter approval in a constitutional-amendment election in November 2025.  If you are a Texas registered voter - make sure to vote to approve these 2 big changes. 

As a REALTOR, I firmly believe that these wins are due to the advocacy efforts of the Texas REALTORS organization.  Their political action committee (TREPAC) keeps agents involved in legislation that benefit property owners. Texas REALTORS is the trade organization for real estate professionals in Texas.  While there are many benefits to membership, one of the benefits is Advocacy.  REALTORS advocate for private property rights which ultimately helps consumers as much as (or more than) it helps the real estate agents.  It's a great example of a win/win in real estate.  As the broker for Best Home Realty and the team leader at North Texas Top Team, REALTORS; I am happy to support TREPAC and the good work that they do such as this.

Best Home Realty Welcomes Top-Performing “Dream Connectors Group” 

Dallas–Fort Worth, TX – July 28, 2025 – Best Home Realty proudly announces the expansion of its family with the addition of the Dream Connectors Group, led by celebrated mother–daughter real estate veterans Gale Dunn and Sylvia Seabolt.

“We are thrilled beyond words. Gale and Sylvia bring unmatched professionalism, dedication, and organizational expertise. Their accolades speak volumes—yet their commitment to every client truly sets them apart.”                                                                                                                       - Melissa Hailey, Broker - Best Home Realty

Meet the Dream Connectors Group

Gale Dunn

• Licensed since 1996
• Holds multiple advanced designations: Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Broker (CRB), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate Residential Institute (GRI), Performance Management Network (PMN), Seller Representative Specialist (SRS), and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) 
• Named a top real estate professional in North Texas & a multi-million dollar closer
• Grew her business through referrals and repeat clients, earning a stellar reputation for client service

Sylvia Seabolt

• Licensed in 2000, with her Broker’s license granted in 2008 
• A long-time member and local, state, & national leader of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®
• 2022 President of the National Women’s Council of REALTORS®
• Holds multiple advanced designations: CRS, ABR, C2EX, PMN, SFR, TRLP, and she was honored as a “REALTOR to Watch” by Texas REALTORS®

 
The Dream Connectors Group aligns seamlessly with Best Home Realty’s dedication to outstanding client experience. Their dual presence — seasoned local expertise and cutting-edge leadership from Gale & Sylvia elevates our offerings for buyers and sellers alike. With deep roots in Garland, Mesquite, Rockwall, Rowlett, and eastern DFW Dream Connectors Group brings insider knowledge clients can trust.

Our team says:

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome such a dynamic duo. Their integrity, skill, and warmth will enrich both our culture and our clients’ experiences.”

 
Best Home Realty welcomes Gale Dunn and Sylvia Seabolt — the Dream Connectors Group — to our family. Here's to their success and ours! 

About Best Home Realty
Best Home Realty is a leading Dallas–Fort Worth brokerage committed to delivering personalized, ethical, and results-driven service. Combining collaborative culture with local community expertise, we empower agents and clients alike to achieve their home‑buying dreams.

Contact:
Best Home Realty
Gabi Powell, Office Manager
g.powell@besthomere.com
www.besthomere.com

Hey y’all – let’s do a little reintroduction, shall we?

I’m Raegan Hailey, a Texas Realtor® helping luxury buyers ditch the city chaos for wide open skies, big beautiful homes, and the kind of lifestyle you can breathe in.
I specialize in Parker, Lucas, Murphy, and surrounding areas—where the lots are bigger, the schools are top-tier (hello, Lovejoy ISD), and the pace just feels right.
I work with families relocating to Texas, folks wanting more land and less noise, and anyone ready to trade traffic for tranquility—without giving up luxury.
What you’ll find around here:– High-end homes on 1–2+ acre lots– Honest, savvy real estate advice– Behind-the-scenes of what it’s really like to buy or sell in this market– A whole lot of charm, hustle, and a few “y’all”s along the way
Here’s the deal:I’m not just here to open doors—I’m here to guide you, advocate for you, and make the process smooth (and maybe even a little fun). I’ll tell it to you straight, I’ll fight for your vision, and I’ll celebrate big when we find the one.
A little about me?– I’ve got a soft spot for patios, statement kitchens, and Texas sunsets– I’m a full-time Realtor® who brings strategy, passion, and dedication to every deal– I believe your dream home shouldn’t come with compromise– When I’m not working, I’m hanging with my dogs, gardening, or experimenting with sourdough– I’m a sucker for architecture, especially historic homes, and I’ve got a special place in my heart for the show Dallas (yes, filmed at Southfork Ranch in Parker, TX!)
If you’re ready for a slower pace, more space, and a whole lot of beauty—pull up a chair. You’re in the right place.
I’d love to help you find your version of Texas luxury and I just can’t wait to connect!

Raegan Hailey - REALTOR® 📞214-621-6255

North Texas Neighborhoods to Watch in Spring 2025

Looking for a new home this spring? North Texas is booming with vibrant communities, each offering unique amenities and lifestyle perks. From fast-growing suburbs like Prosper and Celina to established areas like McKinney and Southlake, there’s something for everyone. In this post, we’ll highlight the top neighborhoods for families, first-time buyers, and luxury home seekers, plus insights into market trends in each area.