Why Kansas City’s Housing Market Isn’t Cooling Like the Headlines Say

You may have seen the headlines lately: inventory is spiking, prices are falling, and some markets are seeing a serious correction.

But that’s not the full story, especially here in Kansas City.

In places like Florida, Texas, and the Southwest, rising inventory is being driven by second-home owners and investors offloading properties. And because those sellers aren’t buying something else, demand isn’t keeping up. That’s where we’re seeing the biggest price drops.

But KC is different.

We’re not a second-home market. Most people selling here are also planning to buy and that helps keep things more balanced. Yes, inventory is starting to tick up slightly, but it's still historically low. And with so many homeowners locked into 3–4% mortgage rates, most aren’t rushing to sell unless they absolutely have to.

If the Fed starts cutting rates and mortgage rates dip later this year? That could ignite a fresh wave of demand which would lead to home prices rising again, especially in areas where inventory stays tight.

Personally, I believe higher rates need to stick around a little longer. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s helping recalibrate the market and get us back to something healthier and more sustainable.

Bottom line: Kansas City isn’t crashing, we’re recalibrating.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just want to talk about timing your next move, I’m always happy to connect.

P.S. Want to see what’s happening in your neighborhood? Just reply to this email and I’ll send you a quick local update.

Best,

Kyle

Hey, I’m Kyle Talbot—Kansas City real estate agent, content creator, and team lead of Moving to KC the #1 relocation-focused real estate team in Kansas City. We help people relocating to Kansas City—as well as local buyers and sellers—navigate the KC housing market with ease.