Accurate Home Pricing a Top Priority for 80% of Agents, HomeLight

What happened

HomeLight has released its Fall 2026 Top Agent Insights report. It's based on an online poll of 715 top real estate agents across the country, run between August 25 and September 3, 2026. HomeLight says it chose participants using the same performance data it uses to identify top agents for buyers and sellers.

The headline finding is that 80% of agents say accurate pricing from the start matters more than it did a year ago. HomeLight describes the market as one where "buyers have more choices and less patience for mistakes."

The report also covers:

• How online estimates and AI tools are skewing seller expectations
• Why agents recommend acting fast when a home isn't attracting serious interest
• Which low-cost improvements agents prefer over major renovations
• How concessions such as closing-cost credits are helping sellers compete on affordability
• Why the strongest offer isn't always the highest one
• How contingencies and inspection negotiations affect whether a deal reaches closing

HomeLight also tells sellers to expect growing inventory, tougher competition and more negotiation after going under contract.

Why it matters for agents

Most of these findings shape listing appointments directly. If sellers arrive with a number from an online estimate or an AI tool, you'll have to work harder to explain your pricing. According to HomeLight, surveyed agents say these tools are skewing what sellers expect. An overpriced listing costs more when buyers have more homes to choose from.

The survey also points to a few talking points for sellers:

• Respond quickly to weak interest. Agents recommend adjusting fast when a home isn't drawing serious buyers instead of waiting it out.
• Choose small updates over big projects. Agents favor low-cost improvements over major renovations.
• Look past the top price. Concessions such as closing-cost credits can help sellers compete on affordability. The highest offer isn't always the strongest, because contingencies and inspection negotiations affect whether a deal closes.
• Plan for negotiation after contract. With inventory growing, HomeLight says sellers should expect negotiations to continue after they accept an offer.

HomeLight offers the full white paper for free on its site.