May 21, 2026

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

One of the biggest misconceptions about today’s housing market is the belief that buyers have disappeared.

In reality, many buyers are still actively searching.

What has changed in 2026 is not necessarily buyer interest.

It is …

May 19, 2026

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

For years, homeowners across New Jersey and much of the country were trained to think one way:

Hold longer. Wait for appreciation. Maximize profit.

But in 2026, a growing number of homeowners are making decisions that …

May 14, 2026

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

In 2026, many home sellers still believe buyers make decisions mostly based on square footage, price, and location.

Those factors still matter.

But the real shift happening across today’s market is psychological.

Modern buyers are now …

May 12, 2026

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

For years, the housing market conversation revolved around one thing: price.

But in 2026, another force is quietly shaping buyer decisions just as much — friction.

Not financial friction alone. Not just mortgage rates. Not only …

May 7, 2026

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

For the past few years, the real estate conversation has been dominated by one thing: uncertainty.

Buyers have been waiting. Sellers have been waiting. Investors have been waiting. Even many agents have been waiting.

Waiting for …

May 5, 2026

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

“Accepted” Doesn’t Mean What It Used To

There was a time when hearing “your offer has been accepted” meant you could start planning your move.

In 2026, that assumption is risky.

Across today’s market, a growing …

By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

The Shift You Can’t Ignore

If 2020–2022 was the era of explosive growth in real estate, 2024–2026 is the era of consolidation.

Major headlines confirm it: multi-billion-dollar mergers, tech-driven brokerages acquiring legacy brands, and companies racing to control more …

April 28, 2026
By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

A recent feature by CNN Business spotlighted Robert Reffkin in its 2026 Risk Takers series—highlighting a bold shift that is quietly transforming how homes are brought to market.

This isn’t incremental innovation.
It’s a structural rethink …

April 24, 2026
By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

If your home hits the market and gets strong activity in the first 7–10 days, most sellers assume one thing:

“We’re on track.”

In 2026, that assumption is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Because what we’re seeing …

April 22, 2026
By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group · Compass Real Estate

There’s a shift happening in today’s real estate market that most headlines aren’t catching—because it doesn’t show up in listing prices or inventory counts.

It shows up after the deal is accepted.

Across New Jersey, we’re …