It probably eases over time, though we can't promise a timeline, so treat this as a framework rather than a forecast. Inventory is seasonal. Spring typically brings more homes to market, and when sellers grow worried about a possible downturn, some choose to list ahead of it, which adds supply. A market starved for listings usually loosens as the calendar turns toward the busy months. Two timing nuances worth knowing: most actual buying activity happens roughly April through June, even though summer tends to get the credit. And the effects of a broader slowdown usually don't show up in the numbers until a couple of months after they start, so the market can feel different from whatever the latest headline says. On the new-construction side, be skeptical of any firm lead-time promise. Breaking ground and building take real time, especially in markets with strict permitting, and ongoing supply-chain and labor disruptions make a precise 12-to-18-month timeline unlikely to hold exactly. Build windows slip. Plan for it. The encouraging part for a buyer: a market with a little inventory getting a bit more inventory is good for you even if prices don't budge, because more choice and less frenzy are worth a lot on their own. Rather than waiting for an improvement date nobody can guarantee, position yourself to move when the right home appears, with financing lined up so a thin-supply market doesn't cost you the one home that fits.