With all the talk about rates and prices lately, it is easy to forget the bigger picture. So here is some good news: most people who bought a home recently are happy they did. After 22 years of helping buyers in Henderson and across the Las Vegas Valley, that matches what I hear from my own clients.
Homeownership Is a Long Game
A recent article from Keeping Current Matters shares survey results from NerdWallet showing that roughly three out of four recent buyers are glad they bought, while only a small fraction say they regret it. That is a strong vote of confidence in a market that has not always felt easy.
The reason so many owners feel good comes down to time. Home prices do not go up every single year, but over longer stretches they have historically trended higher. National data from the FHFA shows prices up by about a third over the last five years, and Bankrate estimates the typical homeowner gained close to $150,000 in wealth over that period. Each mortgage payment also chips away at your loan balance, which builds equity in a way rent never will.
The article also makes an important point I always share: buy when the numbers and the monthly payment work for you, not because of a headline.
What This Means in Henderson and the Las Vegas Valley
National numbers are helpful, but real estate is local. Here is what the MLS shows for Henderson single-family homes as of October 2026:
- About 1,790 homes are for sale, with asking prices that start around $260,000.
- About 1,120 homes sold over the past three months, at an average of roughly $295 per square foot based on list price.
- About 720 of those sales, close to two-thirds, were homes listed under $600,000, averaging roughly $270 per square foot.
That tells me two things. First, Henderson still has a healthy range of homes for buyers at many price points, not just luxury properties. Second, with more homes on the market than we saw a few years ago, today's buyers have more choices and more room to negotiate than they did when competition was at its peak. That is exactly the kind of market where a well-planned purchase can turn into a long-term win.
Practical Tips for Buyers Thinking About Their Next Move
- Plan to stay a while. The longer you own, the more time your home has to build equity and cover the costs of buying and selling.
- Know your comfortable payment first. Get pre-approved and decide on a monthly number that leaves room for savings and life.
- Look beyond the list price. HOA dues, SID or LID assessments and utility costs vary a lot from one Henderson neighborhood to the next.
- Use today's negotiating room. With more homes for sale, asking for repairs or a closing-cost credit is often on the table.
- Get a clear picture of the neighborhood. Drive it at different times of day and ask me for recent sales nearby so you know what homes are really selling for.
The Bottom Line
Most buyers look back on their purchase and feel good about it, especially when they bought with a plan and a budget that worked. If you are wondering whether the time is right for you, I am happy to sit down and look at the numbers together, with no pressure.
Read the full article from Keeping Current Matters
Market figures are from the MLS as of October 2026, are rounded, and change daily.
Photo: Lake Las Vegas aerial view by Carol M. Highsmith, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons