With over 35 years as a full-time real estate broker, I've seen many market cycles and understand the temptation to wait for prices to drop. But right now, higher borrowing costs are making it more expensive to sit on the sidelines. Even though some buyers are hoping for lower prices, home values aren't dropping fast enough to balance out the elevated financing costs—which means waiting doesn't always lead to a better deal overall. On the bright side, there are still negotiation opportunities in certain areas, especially where inventory has improved and sellers are facing less competition. Ultimately, deciding whether to buy now is about weighing the total cost—financing, price, and your negotiating position—not just interest rates.