As the year winds down and the ball gets ready to drop tonight, I keep coming back to one word that defined the past couple of years in real estate:

Patience.

Patience for buyers who waited through higher rates and uncertainty.
Patience for sellers who watched activity slow and headlines turn gloomy.
Patience for anyone who stayed steady when the market felt more like a headwind than a tailwind.

If you’ve been following along with us, trusting us, asking questions, or simply paying attention, thank you. Truly. It means more than you know.

As we look into 2026, I don’t have a crystal ball. But I do have perspective…. earned through cycles, numbers, and lived experience, and I can say this with confidence: I’m optimistic.

Not “prices will jump 25% overnight” optimistic.
Not “frenzy returns tomorrow” optimistic.

But grounded, healthy, long-term optimistic.

A Personal Story (and Why We Believe So Deeply in This)

I was 24 years old when I bought my first home.

My now-husband and I weren’t married or even engaged yet. We sat at the kitchen table doing the math: two rents versus one mortgage. It felt grown-up, slightly terrifying, and very real. That first home, a modest place in Port Royal Landing Marina with terrible teal carpet, and was paper boarders. It had a small fenced yard which was the only real requirement for my English Setter, Cooper. That little cottage became far more than just a roof over our heads.

That single property became the foundation.

Over time, it turned into a rental for friends and family. Later, a short-term rental. Then a mid-term rental. It’s been leveraged and reimagined and nearly 15 years later, we still own it.

That’s the part of real estate people don’t always see in the headlines: the quiet power of time, equity, and intention.

That one decision at 24 helped create flexibility, options, and opportunity through every stage of life that followed.

Where We Are Heading Into 2026

Here’s what we’re seeing as we leave 2025 in the rearview mirror:

• Buyer activity is gradually returning. Not rushing, but re-engaging

• Mortgage payments have been easing as incomes catch up to prices and rates slightly tick down

• Inventory is giving buyers choices again, which creates healthier negotiations

• Sellers who prepare, price strategically, and understand today’s buyer are being rewarded

No, I don’t believe we’re heading into runaway appreciation.
No, I don’t think every home will sell instantly.

But yes, momentum is building. Confidence is returning. And patience is starting to pay dividends.

Real Estate Isn’t Just About “Now”

One of the biggest misconceptions is that real estate decisions are only about today’s market.

In reality, they’re about life stages:

• The first home that beats paying rent

• The move-up house for a growing family

• The downsizing decision that unlocks equity

• The investment property that quietly works in the background

• The conversation you have for your child who’s ready to buy their first place

Even if you aren’t buying or selling right now, someone close to you might be and understanding the options matters.

That’s where we come in.

How We See Our Role

Think of us less as “real estate agents” and more as advisors and sounding boards.

We’re here to:

• Walk through numbers without pressure

• Talk strategy without urgency

• Help you understand financing, timing, and trade-offs

• Sit at your kitchen table, grab coffee, hop on Zoom, whatever feels easiest

If we haven’t met in person yet, we’d love to.
If you want to understand the market better, we’re happy to talk.
If you’re thinking about selling in 2026, now is the time to prepare, pine straw, paint touch-ups, photography, and a smart plan make all the difference.

Looking Ahead

I’m grateful to leave 2025 behind.
I’m excited about what’s coming in 2026.
And I truly believe real estate remains one of the most powerful vessels for long-term wealth building when approached with clarity, patience, and good advice.

If you want to talk — about your home, your investments, your kids, your next chapter — we’re here.

Here’s to steadier tides, clearer horizons, and a year ahead filled with opportunity.

Warmly,


Allison Sutcliffe Greco

843.812.3711

allisongrecorealtor@gmail.com

Real Estate in the Lowcountry