Wilmington’s Spring Market Is Heating Up

While this month’s freezing temperatures might fool you, springtime is quickly approaching, and with it, Wilmington’s busiest real estate market for 2026.  

If you’re planning to sell your house this year (and buy a new one), now is the time to talk. The first step is interviewing agents to have that initial conversation about plans, expectations, and the required prep work to maximize success.   

Many first-time home sellers are anxious about the current state of their house. They’ll say, “Don’t look in my kid’s room!” or “Please don’t judge my house right now!” The truth is, I’m not alarmed, and I’m not judging. I’m a human and live in my house too (along with my two dogs), and your house doesn’t have to be perfect for me to see it and get a feel for what we’re working with.  

You may not have to repaint your whole house to resell it, or renovate that dated bathroom you always meant to update! Decluttering and staging with your own things can go a very long way.  

It’s important to choose a real estate agent you trust who also understands the digital tools you need in a landscape that AI has been rapidly changing. And it’s never too early to have these conversations with your real estate agent, especially because selling your house involves so many moving parts – booking the right photographer and coordinating with movers, attorneys, and the lender.  

Conversely, if you’re gearing up to buy a home, there are important steps to follow:  

• Check your credit early. Pay down revolving debt and high-interest credit cards. Strong credit means better options, better rates, less stress.  

• Avoid financing big purchases. Yes, those new Range Rovers are super cute – but a car loan can absolutely prevent you from qualifying for the home you want. A mortgage won’t prevent you from getting a car loan, but a car loan can prevent you from qualifying for the house you want!  Timing is everything.    

• Audit your recurring expenses. One of my 2026 resolutions? No new subscriptions. I ran my accounts through a charge-tracking app and found hundreds per month going to things I didn’t even use. (And I know I’m not alone.)  

• Get honest about food and delivery spending. Dining out, drinks, DoorDash, Uber Eats – it adds up fast. Just $200/week = over $10,000+ per year. No judgment here – but in 2026, I’m ready to help you make smart decisions that lead to Wilmington homeownership.  

A big question I’m seeing with clients is how to sell their current home and then use that equity to buy the next one all at once. With the right agent, this can be a smooth transition.  

I recently helped a couple work quickly to sell their Wilmington house so that they could buy a stunning home with ocean views. We closed on their Wilmington home in the morning and closed on their new beach house that afternoon.  

Another Wilmington couple I’m working with just closed on a HELOC for their current townhome to buy their first house!  They plan to keep their townhome as a rental and start a family in their first Wilmington house together.    

Buying and selling at the same time isn’t for everyone. It can feel like a heavy lift, especially if you’re unprepared. But with the right partnerships and the right agent, it can be done smoothly and successfully.  

If you’re sitting on home equity (or if you don’t know how much equity you have) and want to use it to buy your next home but can’t quite picture how that works, reach out. I’ll walk you through how it can go right, where it can go wrong, and exactly how to prepare.