We can't promise where Greater Boston goes next year, but supply is the variable that decides whether the bidding wars ease. In a lot of metros, homeowners who locked in low payments simply don't want to sell, which keeps listings tight regardless of what rates do. That's the piece to watch in your area, and it matters more than the demand headlines. If rates rise, some buyers drop out, but if the pool of motivated sellers doesn't grow at the same time, the homes that do list can stay competitive. If rates ease, demand can come right back without unlocking a wave of new listings. Either way, thin supply keeps pressure on the exact homes buyers want most. Real estate is also intensely local, right down to the submarket. Even where broad prices soften, the specific home you want, in a popular category or price band, can stay hot. So get to know your pockets of inventory rather than leaning on national trends. Track how many listings hit your target neighborhoods and how fast they clear. And if you keep getting outbid, the fix is usually a sharper strategy on the homes that fit you: a stronger pre-approval, cleaner terms, faster responses. Waiting for a market-wide shift that may not arrive on your timeline is the weaker play.