West Michigan Real Estate Blog | Luke Bouman Team

By Luke Bouman | Luke Bouman Real Estate Team | June 2026

It is the question every buyer asks and every agent has an opinion on. Here is an honest answer rather than a sales pitch.

The Case for Buying Now

West Michigan prices are not dropping. Holland is at $419,000 median, Hudsonville at $532,250, Zeeland at $497,450. These markets have shown consistent appreciation over 5+ years and the fundamental demand drivers -- Ottawa County school districts, Lake Michigan proximity, Grand Rapids employment access -- have not changed. Waiting for prices to fall in West Michigan has not worked out for buyers who tried it in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.

Inventory remains constrained. Ottawa County has chronically low inventory relative to buyer demand. That supply-demand imbalance is structural -- it is not going to resolve itself quickly. Waiting for more inventory to appear has consistently resulted in buyers facing the same constrained market 6-12 months later at higher prices.

Every month you wait is a month of equity you do not build. At West Michigan's appreciation rates, waiting 12 months to buy typically costs more in missed appreciation than any rate improvement would save in monthly payments.

The Honest Caveat

If mortgage rates drop significantly in the next 12 months, buyers who purchase now can refinance. If prices appreciate further, buyers who waited lose ground permanently. The asymmetry favors buying when you are financially ready -- not waiting for perfect conditions that may not arrive.

The right time to buy in West Michigan is when your personal finances support it -- stable income, adequate down payment, reasonable debt load. The market timing question is secondary to the personal readiness question.

What We Are Seeing Right Now

Spring 2026 in West Michigan is competitive. Well-priced homes in Holland, Zeeland, and Hudsonville are receiving multiple offers. Correctly priced properties are selling in the low 30s days on market. Buyers who are pre-approved, move decisively, and work with an experienced local agent are successfully closing. Buyers who are waiting for the right moment are watching properties sell to buyers who moved.

No Realtor has sold more homes in Holland MI over the last 10 years. Call (616) 344-9923 for a honest market conversation.

Related: West Michigan Market Update 2026 | First-Time Home Buyer Guide | Multiple Offer Strategy