Why buyers are ghosting fixer-uppers in 2026

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Published Date 12/18/2025

While first impressions have always mattered in real estate, 2026 is a year when they're about to matter a whole lot more. If your home doesn't quietly whisper "I'm perfect," buyers are going to keep scrolling. Period.

It’s evidently a whole new ballgame, as Realtor’s Dina Sartore-Bodo reports that curb appeal is undergoing a dramatic shift as today's buyers approach homeownership. She cites Ginger Wilcox, president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, who puts it bluntly: “High barriers to entry have created a generation of buyers who know what they want and won't settle for less.”

Real estate agents are exercising "quiet confidence" as they hunt for homes that appear balanced, clean, and well cared for, according to a BHG real estate report that surveyed affiliated agents nationwide. These properties are likely to sell faster than older fixer-uppers, no matter how much potential they might have.

Agents from Los Angeles to Florida say sellers in 2026 face more obstacles than in previous years. If you're competing with new construction, you have to double down on making sure your home is in top-notch condition both inside and out. The key? Making your home look effortlessly maintained, especially when it comes to landscaping. “Native plantings, permeable walkways, and shaded,” says Sartore-Bodo. “Seating areas are features that will appeal to next year's buyers. Gone are the days of overstuffed flower beds or an abundance of greenery requiring vigilant upkeep.” In other words, simplicity wins.

Buyers are drawn to smaller, clean-lined plantings that frame the home and are easy to care for. Drought-resistant varieties are in high demand in California, while Florida buyers prefer plants that thrive on water and produce pretty blooms.

It makes more sense when you consider that the average first-time buyer is now 40 years old, with many balancing families in their sandwich-generation years. Homes with low-maintenance features are winning the day. Evidently, however, outdoor extensions make the biggest difference in how livable a home feels. Porches and patios with cozy seating don't look merely inviting—they're perceived as extra living space, crucial for small properties or larger homes marketed as multigenerational.

Outdoor kitchen exhibitors are doing more business than ever before, with those in the industry saying porches are now linchpins, along with simplified landscaping. If neither is in your budget, however, do one important thing: paint your front door. Just as well-maintained gates to an estate announce something special, your front door is the jewelry through which buyers gain an important first impression.

Bottom line? Buyers will continue wanting turnkey and move-in-ready. Given high housing costs and interest rates, many simply don't have the bandwidth to take on a home needing lots of work. If your home appears to have deferred maintenance on the outside, they'll simply move on.

Realtor, TBWS

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NEXA Mortgage, LLC (NMLS #1660690) is an equal Housing Lender - 3100 W Ray Rd 201, Suite 209, Chandler, AZ 85226 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

Scott Moon

Home Loan Advisor

NMLS: 1492315

NEXA Mortgage

3100 W Ray Rd Suite 201 Office 209, Chandler AZ 85226

Company NMLS: #1660690

Office: 202-352-5625

Cell: 202-352-5625

Email: smoon@nexamortgage.com

Web: http://www.scottmoon.us