The Hillsboro Real Estate Market: 2025 Year-End Wrap-Up & How to Win in 2026

As we close the final chapter of 2025, I want to start with this:

Happy New Year, and best wishes to you and your family as we head into 2026. 🎉
Thank you for reading, asking great questions, and staying engaged in a year that required more clarity—and more strategy—than most.

Now let’s talk honestly about the market we’re leaving behind…
and the one we’re stepping into.

2025 in Review: A Market That Didn’t Break — It Repositioned

If I had to summarize 2025 in one sentence, it would be this:

2025 wasn’t a boom year or a bust year. It was a sorting year.

The Hillsboro market didn’t move in one direction. It separated into distinct lanes, and that separation will define outcomes well into 2026.

What defined 2025:

• Rising inventory in select neighborhoods
• Buyers becoming more analytical and patient
• Sellers needing strategy instead of optimism
• Location and buyer profile mattering more than ever

The biggest catalyst behind that shift was the mid-year workforce reduction at Intel, which didn’t crash the market—but it rebalanced it unevenly.

The Big Theme of 2025: The Market Split

By the end of the year, two realities clearly emerged across Hillsboro.

Market A: Intel-Adjacent & Older Housing Stock

In areas closer to major tech campuses:

• Days on market increased
• Pricing corrected toward 2020–2021 levels
• Sellers became more motivated
• Buyers focused on value and leverage

Homes sold—but only when priced correctly and positioned well.

Market B: Lifestyle-Driven & Newer Communities

In places like South Hillsboro and near Reed’s Crossing:

• Homes sold faster
• Demand stayed consistent
• Buyer urgency remained strong
• Lifestyle mattered more than rates

These areas quietly became the pace-setters for the city.

This split isn’t temporary.
It’s structural—and it carries directly into 2026.

What Changed in Buyer Psychology in 2025

One of the most important lessons from this year wasn’t about pricing—it was about behavior.

Buyers in 2025:

• Expected transparency
• Compared neighborhoods, not just homes
• Asked “why is this home priced this way?”
• Moved quickly when value and lifestyle aligned

Impulse buying disappeared.
Intentional buying took its place.

That’s good news for homeowners who plan strategically.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Market Forecast

As we enter the first quarter of 2026, here’s what the data and behavior suggest—not hype, not headlines.

1. Early 2026 Will Be a Leverage Window

January through March tends to bring:

• Motivated buyers returning after the holidays
• Fresh pre-approvals
• Relocation activity
• Lower inventory before spring listings surge

Sellers who act before April often face:

• Less competition
• Cleaner pricing dynamics
• More decisive buyers

This window matters most in high-demand neighborhoods.

2. Spring 2026 Will Be More Competitive Than Normal

Why?

Because many homeowners postponed selling in 2025.

Expect:

• More listings hitting the market in April–May
• Increased competition among similar homes
• Buyers negotiating harder
• Pricing precision becoming critical

Spring won’t be “bad,” but it will be crowded.

3. Micro-Markets Will Matter More Than Rates

Rates will fluctuate in 2026—but they won’t be the deciding factor.

What will matter:

• Neighborhood demand
• Buyer type
• Inventory within a specific price band
• Proximity to lifestyle amenities

In other words:
Your ZIP code will matter more than the Fed.

Best Practices to Win in Q1 2026 (and Beyond)

Whether you’re selling, buying, or simply planning, here’s what consistently works in this type of market.

For Sellers: Strategy Beats Timing

The best-performing sellers in early 2026 will:

• Price for today’s buyer, not yesterday’s market
• List before inventory peaks
• Focus marketing on lifestyle and use-case
• Understand how their home compares to new construction
• Prepare emotionally for negotiation—not resistance

Early preparation creates leverage.

For Buyers: Clarity Creates Opportunity

Buyers who win in 2026 will:

• Know which neighborhoods are accelerating vs stabilizing
• Move decisively when value aligns
• Avoid over-negotiating in fast markets
• Use Q1 to get ahead of spring competition

The best opportunities usually appear before the crowd notices them.

For Homeowners Not Ready to Move (Yet)

Even if selling isn’t on your immediate radar, 2026 is the year to:

• Track your equity position quarterly
• Understand your neighborhood’s demand profile
• Monitor new construction nearby
• Plan renovations strategically (or skip them entirely)

Preparation isn’t pressure—it’s power.

The Single Biggest Mistake to Avoid in 2026

Here it is:

❌ Treating the market as if it’s uniform.

The Hillsboro market is no longer:

• “Up everywhere”
• “Down everywhere”
• “Hot” or “cold”

It’s segmented.

Homeowners who win in 2026 will make decisions based on:

• Their specific neighborhood
• Their buyer pool
• Their equity position
• Their timeline

Not headlines.

Final Takeaways as We Close 2025

Let’s summarize what this year taught us:

• 2025 was a transition year, not a downturn
• The market split—and that split remains
• Lifestyle-driven areas outperformed
• Intel-adjacent areas required more strategy
• Timing and positioning matter more than ever
• Early 2026 presents a real opportunity window

Most importantly:

Informed homeowners will outperform emotional ones.

A Final Thank You — and Best Wishes for 2026

As we turn the page on 2025, I want to sincerely say thank you for being part of these conversations.

Whether you’re:

• Actively planning a move
• Watching the market closely
• Or simply wanting to stay informed

I’m grateful for the trust and engagement.

🎆 Wishing you a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.
May 2026 bring clarity, confidence, and great opportunities—both in real estate and beyond.

Want to Start 2026 with Clarity?

If you’d like:

• A personalized market snapshot
• A neighborhood-specific forecast
• An equity and timing review
• Or a simple conversation about your 2026 plans

💬 Message me

No pressure.
Just smart planning for the year ahead.

Here’s to a strong finish—and an even stronger 2026. 🥂