Selling During “The Great Stay” — Strategy That Works in ND & MN

In a rate-locked, low-inventory market, well-prepared listings still win. At Modern Market REALTORS®, Jim & Shannon help you decide whether to
stay, renovate, or sell—and if selling is right, we position your home to move quickly with data-backed pricing, smart preparation, and
digital-first marketing (pro photos, floor plans, and 3D tours). From Fargo–Moorhead to lake country, we make every step clear and confident.
We Make Real Estate Easier.

📍 Fargo, ND • Moorhead, MN • Horace, ND • West Fargo, ND

The Great Stay: Why Homeowners Are Staying Put (Expanded)

Why Homeowners Across North Dakota & Minnesota Are Waiting to Sell.

A New Trend in a Changing Market (Revisited)

The real estate landscape in 2026 is going to be unlike that of the previous decade. Many homeowners—especially in North Dakota and Minnesota—are pushing the brakes on relocation.
This movement, now often called “The Great Stay,” isn’t about fear; it’s about economics, market dynamics, and lifestyle reconsiderations. In markets like Fargo–Moorhead,
rural Minnesota, or small North Dakota towns, homeowners are weighing the cost of moving against the benefits of staying.

Deeper Market Realities Back the Stay

Mortgage Rates & Financial Anchoring

Mortgage rates remain a powerful anchor. As of late September 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has crept upward to around
6.30 % (AP News).
In Minnesota, similar rates of ~6.5 % are common
(Bankrate).
That means sellers who locked in loans in recent years at lower rates are very reluctant to give them up. This “rate lock-in” effect suppresses turnover, especially
in regions where incomes are stable but housing costs are rising.

Home Price Trends in ND & MN

North Dakota’s housing market continues showing modest but steady gains. The North Dakota All-Transactions House Price Index hit 511.14 in Q2 2025, up from 498.05 in Q1—signaling ongoing appreciation
(FRED).
Meanwhile, North Dakota’s typical home value sits around $280,968, up 3.8 % over the past year
(Zillow).
In Minnesota, sellers are navigating a market with housing inventory constraints and consistent buyer demand.

Fargo–Moorhead, specifically, is entering a “more balanced phase” in 2025—neither strictly a seller’s market nor buyer’s market but with opportunity on both sides
(Modern Market REALTORS®).
That balance means homeowners must choose whether to stay, given that conditions may not heavily favor aggressive moves.

Inventory & Supply Constraints

One of the biggest drivers of the Great Stay is low inventory. In many ND localities, active listings are down year-over-year while buyer demand remains steady
(Houzeo).
Fewer homes on the market mean less room for buyers to switch properties without competition or getting stuck with overlapping mortgages.

In North Dakota, the median days on market has dropped to ~64 days, faster than prior years
(Bankrate).
That means competition is fierce when homes go up—but fewer homes are going up for sale in the first place.

Why Staying Makes Sense (Now More Than Ever)

• Financial stability vs. trading equity: If your mortgage is under 4 %, moving and financing again at a higher rate can erode gains.
• Renovation as a path to value: Many homeowners are choosing to reinvest in their current homes—upgrading kitchens, expanding living areas, adding energy-efficiency measures—without enduring the disruption of moving.
• Tax and cost advantage: Without the costs of staging, moving, realtor commissions, and fees, the margin for profit when selling shrinks. Staying avoids those frictional losses.
• Lifestyle continuity: Especially in smaller communities or with kids in school, uprooting can come at a high emotional and logistical cost.
• Equity buffer: Many homes in ND and MN have built sufficient equity over recent years, giving owners a safety net should the market slow or rates rise further.

Demographic Trends – Generations Behind the Great Stay

Baby Boomers – Aging in Place

Born 1946–1964, Boomers hold a large share of housing in North Dakota and Minnesota. Many enjoy paid-off or low-rate mortgages and prefer to stay put. Aging in place lets them maintain community ties and invest in accessibility upgrades—like main-floor bedrooms or zero-entry showers—rather than compete in a market with higher prices and limited inventory.

Generation X – Equity Builders

Gen X (1965–1980) is in peak earning years and has built significant equity during a decade of appreciation. With children in middle or high school, the cost of a move—financial and emotional—often outweighs the benefit. They’re more likely to remodel or expand their current home, adding energy-efficient systems or finishing basements while watching equity grow.

Millennials – Careful Climbers

Millennials (1981–1996) now dominate first-time buyer activity but many locked in 3–4 % mortgages in the early 2020s. Trading that rate for today’s 6 %+ environment means a big jump in payments, so they’re delaying second-home purchases and opting for strategic upgrades or multi-generational living.

Generation Z – Entering Slowly

Gen Z (1997–2012) is only beginning to buy homes. Student debt, rising prices, and stricter lending standards mean many rent longer or purchase smaller starter homes. Their slower entry further reduces the churn that typically pressures older owners to sell.

When Staying Isn’t the Right Answer

Staying isn’t always optimal. Homeowners should consider selling if:

• The home no longer meets essential needs (size, layout, accessibility).
• Work, family, or health needs demand relocation.
• Maintenance costs or deferred repairs are becoming burdensome.
• The after-tax and equity gains from moving outweigh transaction costs.
• There’s a sharp shift in market dynamics (e.g., new job prospects elsewhere, favorable tax/interest policies).

Selling in 2025 — What Homeowners Need to Know

1. Pricing with precision. In a tighter market, overpriced homes linger. Use local comparables in ND or MN.
2. Emphasize relevance. Updated HVAC, insulation, and smart-home wiring resonate with buyers.
3. Digital-first presentation. 3D tours, floor plans, and strong photography help listings stand out.
4. Flexible timing. Be ready to adjust closing windows and accommodate buyers.
5. Prep early. Curb appeal, minor repairs, and staging still pay off.

How Modern Market REALTORS® Helps You Decide

At Modern Market REALTORS®, our expertise lies in bridging the “stay vs. sell” gap. We help homeowners in North Dakota and Minnesota understand:

• What staying means in your market (interest rate risk, equity growth forecasts).
• What selling will demand (costs, staging, timing, negotiation).
• The local forces at play—from rural towns to the Fargo–Moorhead metro and the lakes counties of western Minnesota.

Whether your plan is to stay, move, or renovate, we guide you with data, local insight, and a steady hand.

What Happens When Rates Drop & the Market Reopens

Buyer Demand Floodgates Open

When mortgage rates drift back toward the 5–6 % range, sidelined buyers typically jump back in.
Fannie Mae’s baseline expects average 30-year rates to ease toward 5.9 % by late 2026
(Fannie Mae).
Even a 0.5-point rate drop can expand a buyer’s price ceiling roughly 5–10 %, depending on term and taxes—amplifying purchasing power in ND and MN markets
(Investopedia).

Sellers Re-Enter & Inventory Builds

Lower rates reduce the “lock-in” penalty. Owners with life changes (new jobs, upsizing/downsizing, retirement) who’ve been waiting can finally list.
That adds inventory and choice, which in turn attracts more buyers—the classic “market opening” flywheel.

Prices, Speed, & Multiple Offers

As demand revives, well-priced homes move faster and may draw multiple offers. Desirable niches—single-level homes, new construction,
lake-area properties—often lead early price gains. Expect ND/MN metros (Fargo–Moorhead, the Twin Cities) and high-amenity lake communities to see the first lift.

Local Timing in ND & MN

The reopening rarely arrives everywhere at once. Historically, metro and high-demand submarkets turn first; rural areas follow. Watch rate cuts, days-on-market trends,
and builder sentiment to spot the turn.

Risks That Could Slow the Turn

• Sticky inflation or new shocks that keep rates elevated.
• Mortgage spreads staying wide even if the Fed eases.
• Construction bottlenecks (labor, materials) limiting new supply.
• Regional employment/migration shifts that slow demand.

How to Prepare (Now)

• Sellers: Do the easy value wins—repairs, paint, landscaping, light staging—and gather your documents.
• Stayers/Upgraders: If you’ll hold, target energy upgrades and layout fixes that boost long-term livability and resale.
• Buyers-in-waiting: Get pre-approved and track neighborhoods; when rates dip, you’ll be ready to strike.

13 Listings

$210,000 511 11th Street N
Moorhead, MN 56560

IDX

$425,000 429 Valley Avenue
Moorhead, MN 56560

IDX

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IDX MLS IDX Listing Disclosure © 2025

The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity SM Program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc. The information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. ©2024 Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc All rights reserved.

Highly likely to recommend | ★★★★★ 5.0

AdamRudell

Sold a Single Family home in Bennett, Fargo, ND.

• ✔ Local knowledge
• ✔ Process expertise
• ✔ Responsiveness
• ✔ Negotiation skills

Jim and Shannon are some of the best people I have ever worked with! We worked with them to sell our house and find our home in the country that exceeded our expectations.
During the whole process, they were continuously engaged with us and always willing to answer any questions or concerns that we had.
If we ever decide to move again, I already know who I will be calling and would recommend them to anyone looking to sell/buy a new home as you will be in good hands!

Writers & About

Jim Christl & Shannon Barnum

Jim Christl, Broker, and Shannon Barnum, Associate Broker, of Modern Market REALTORS® serve homeowners across North Dakota and Minnesota. For this guide on “The Great Stay,” Jim focuses on rate-lock and equity analysis, pricing strategy, and sell-vs-stay roadmaps for the Fargo–Moorhead metro, West Fargo, Horace, and nearby lake communities.
Shannon leads listing preparation and timing—prioritizing ROI-smart updates (paint, lighting, efficiency), thoughtful staging, and digital-first marketing (pro photos, floor plans, 3D tours)—so homeowners can confidently decide whether to stay, renovate, or sell.