🏡 January Market Update: By The Numbers

Written By Tim Tripon

We just got the numbers for January closed sales in Michigan, and the data tells a very specific story about seasonality.

The Data: Closed Sales Hit the Seasonal "Floor" Looking at the 10-year chart above for the entire MLS (Michigan), we can see the classic heartbeat of the real estate market.

  • January 2026 Closed Sales: 5,442

  • The Trend: We are seeing a 15.8% drop compared to the previous reporting period.

What does this mean? Don't panic—this is normal. If you look at the chart (the dips at the bottom of every year), January is almost always the lowest point for closed sales. These closings represent homes that went under contract in November and December during the holidays when no one was thinking about moving.

Market Pulse: Price Decreases & New Listings While sales volume is low, here is what we are seeing on the street right now:

  • Price Decreases: Sellers who listed in the fall and haven't sold yet are making adjustments right now to try and catch the early spring buyers. If you are a buyer, there are deals to be found on these "stale" listings before the new competition arrives.

  • New Listings: Inventory is still tight (as seen by the low sales numbers), but we expect a flood of New Listings to start hitting the market starting usually the week after the Super Bowl.

The "Fed" Context As noted in recent financial updates, the Fed has signaled a "Pause" on rate cuts.

  • For Buyers: This means mortgage rates are likely to hold steady for the short term. Trying to "time the market" for a rate drop might result in you paying a higher home price later this spring when competition heats up.

  • For Sellers: The serious buyers are out right now. They aren't waiting for June.

The Bottom Line January was the sleepy month we expected it to be. However, history tells us the graph goes up from here. If you are thinking of selling in 2026, now is the time to get photos done before the rush.

 

We have officially made it through January. As we look toward the weekend, it is arguably one of the biggest weekends of the year for sports fans and global culture.

Here is what is happening around the world (and on your TV) this weekend, followed by a breakdown of the January housing numbers hot off the press.

 

🌎 What’s Happening This Weekend (Feb 6 - Feb 8)

If you love competition, clear your schedule. This weekend is a massive collision of global events.

  • The Winter Olympics Begin (Milano Cortina 2026): The Opening Ceremony kicks off this Friday, Feb 6th! All eyes will be on Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the Winter Games officially start. Expect heavy news coverage on the athletes and the pageantry coming out of Italy this weekend.

  • Super Bowl LX (Sunday, Feb 8): The biggest day in American sports is finally here. Super Bowl 60 takes place this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. whether you are in it for the game, the halftime show, or just the commercials and dip, Sunday evening is going to be booked for most of the country.

  • The "Spring" Thaw? While we are still deep in winter, we are noticing the days getting slightly longer. Use this weekend to prep for the week ahead—because once the Super Bowl is over, the real estate "Spring Market" usually kicks into high gear.

📈 Keeping Up with the Market: See It in Real-Time

The charts above tell us where we were in January, but the market changes every single day.

If you want to see exactly what is happening in your neighborhood right now—without waiting for the monthly report—I have a live portal set up just for you. Whether you are hunting for a deal or just curious about what the house down the street sold for, you can check the daily pulse here:

Enjoy the game and the Opening Ceremonies this weekend!

All the best,
Tim Tripon
📱 248.835.8197

triponrealestate.com

Tim Tripon
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