The Current Real Estate Market Is Brutal, But “Boomsday” Is Coming

Let’s be real: The market has been tough.

• Sellers are stuck.
• Buyers are hesitant.
• Rates are high.
• Deals are harder to close.
• And for a lot of agents, it feels like everything’s slowed to a crawl.

But hear this loud and clear: This is the calm before the storm. And if you play it right, the shift that’s coming could be the biggest opportunity you’ve had in years.

Last week at the annual LPT Realty Ascend Conference, CEO Robert Palmer introduced a bold phrase that stuck with me: “Boomsday,” a play on words that flips the fear of a crash into the opportunity of a breakout.

He argued that what looks like a slowdown today is actually the runway for the next housing surge. I couldn’t agree more, and as someone who watches real‑estate cycles closely, I see the data right alongside him.

“Boomsday.”

It’s the opposite of doomsday. It’s the surge that comes after the stall. It’s the moment the floodgates open. And it’s coming faster than most people think.

Here’s how I see it, and more importantly how to prepare.

Why this market feels stuck

Here’s the setup we’re dealing with right now:

• Sellers are locked in: Millions of homeowners are sitting on 3 percent to 4 percent mortgages. They don’t want to trade that in for 6 percent to 7 percent. So they’re not moving. That’s strangling supply.
• Buyers are frustrated: High rates, tight inventory and high prices have kept would-be buyers on the sidelines. Most are in “let’s wait and see” mode.
• Builders aren’t keeping up: Years of underbuilding, permitting challenges and zoning issues mean we’re still way behind on single-family inventory, and that won’t change in the immediate future.
• Transactions are down, but demand isn’t gone: Sales volume has been at near 30-year lows, but the desire to buy and move is still there. It’s just been paused.

And that’s the key: This market isn’t broken … it’s bottlenecked. When rates ease up, even a little, demand will flood back in, and so will the number of closings.

That’s when boomsday hits.

What boomsday looks like

Let’s talk mechanics for a second.

When mortgage rates drop back into the fives, here’s how it can play out:

1. Buyers re-enter fast: They’ve been waiting. As soon as they see rates drop, they jump in.
   
2. Sellers start to list: Those who’ve been holding out see rates dropping, so they can re-purchase, and buyer activity increasing, they can finally make their move.
   
3. Prices could start climbing again: If demand outpaces new inventory, prices will get pushed up, especially in tight markets. However, this could get offset by more sellers entering the market.
   
4. Transaction volume explodes: Deals get done. Fast.
   

This is exactly what Robert Palmer meant by “boomsday.”

Now is not the time to fear. Rather, it’s the time to prepare.

The agents who stay focused right now — building systems, working their database, creating content, expanding their knowledge — are the ones who will clean up when the boom hits.

It reminds me of a conversation I had with real estate coach Jon Cheplak where he said, “Your success is just around the corner from when you want to quit … It’s not about the scoreboard tomorrow; it’s about your execution today.”

Execution is what will separate the pros from the pretenders and the people to expand their market share from the ones who exit the business. 

How to position yourself to win when boomsday hits

If you’re not preparing right now, you’re going to get left behind. Here’s the playbook to make sure that doesn’t happen.

1. Dial in your marketing and funnel now, not later

You want a full pipeline before Boomsday arrives.

• Create lead magnets for buyers and sellers
• Build mail and email sequences to nurture your database
• Update and clean out your CRM
• Create a weekly email series 
• Launch a boomsday-focused outreach campaign

Don’t wait until everyone else starts marketing — be the one they’re already seeing.

2. Pick a niche, and plant your flag

The days of being a generic “I help everyone” agent are over. Specialists win in noisy markets.

Choose a lane:

• First-time buyers
• Relocation clients
• Luxury downsizers
• Area specialist
• Out-of-state investors
• Move-up sellers
  

Then own that message:

“Helping move-up sellers maximize equity and time their next move before the 2026 housing surge.”

3. Educate your audience on what’s coming

Use content to lead the conversation in your market. Show your buyers and sellers that you see the bigger picture.

Content ideas:

• “Why This Tough Market Is Actually the Setup for a Massive Boom”
• “Boomsday is Coming — Here’s How to Prepare as a Buyer or Seller”
• “What Happens When Rates Drop Below 6% (And Why It Matters)”
  

Create Reels, carousels, blogs and emails to hit every touchpoint.

4. Target supply-constrained markets first

Boomsday won’t hit evenly. The biggest jumps will happen in:

• Markets with tight inventory
• Cities with high in-migration
• Areas where new construction is limited
  

Know your ZIP codes. Track the data. Dominate the conversation before the rush.

5. Be the trusted guide (not a salesperson)

Everyone’s confused right now. Lead with clarity.

• Break down the shift simply, and show your audience how to prepare.
• Reach out to your sphere regularly to provide updates and answer questions.
• Offer pre-listing or buyer readiness audits.
• Position yourself as the “boomsday expert” in your market.
  

The goal is simple: When things heat up, you’re already the person they trust.

Prepare for ‘boomsday’ now

Yes, the market is hard right now. Yes, deals are slower. Yes, people are hesitant.

But that’s exactly what makes this the moment — your moment — to shine.

Boomsday isn’t a fantasy; it’s what happens when years of pent-up demand hit a turning point. And that point is coming soon. If you want to be positioned to lead your market, not react to it, now is the time to lay the foundation and build your future.