If you have been watching the real estate market closely this spring, one thing is becoming clear: more homes are beginning to come to market.

That is true nationally, where the number of new listings has increased meaningfully in recent months, and overall inventory has also improved from a year ago. The broader housing market is giving buyers more choices than they have had in some time.

Here in our coastal markets, from Niantic, Connecticut to South Kingstown, Rhode Island, that trend is beginning to show up as well, though not evenly across every town, neighborhood, or price point.

In the more moderate price ranges, buyers are starting to see a bit more selection. In the luxury segment, inventory remains relatively constrained, particularly in the most sought-after coastal enclaves such as Watch Hill, Weekapaug, Shelter Harbor, and parts of Misquamicut. Even so, that tightness is beginning to ease slightly, and from what I am hearing, additional high-end properties are likely to come available over the next 45 days, both on the open market and quietly off-market.

That is encouraging news for buyers.

But it should not be misunderstood.

More inventory does not mean an easy market. It simply means there may be more opportunities for prepared buyers to act.

More Choice Is Helpful - But Scarcity Still Defines the Best Coastal Markets

For the past several years, one of the biggest frustrations for buyers has been the simple lack of options. Many buyers were ready, willing, and financially able to purchase, but there just was not enough available inventory that fit their needs.

That remains especially true in our local coastal markets.

Unlike more transient areas, many of the best homes in Southern Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut are tightly held. Families keep them for decades. These are often not just houses, but legacy properties — homes that become part of a family’s traditions, summers, holidays, and long-term plans. As a result, inventory here tends to come in waves, often triggered by life changes, estate transitions, or shifts in family priorities rather than by ordinary market cycles.

So when we do begin to see more homes hitting the market, it matters.

But it does not necessarily mean buyers suddenly have the upper hand.

It usually means they have a few more chances to find the right property.

That distinction is important. In places like Watch Hill, Weekapaug, Shelter Harbor, Stonington, Mystic, Noank, Charlestown, and South Kingstown, truly desirable inventory remains limited by geography alone. There is only so much waterfront. There are only so many homes within walking distance to the beach or village. There are only so many properties with the combination of views, privacy, quality, and location that buyers at the high end are really seeking.

So while the number of options may be improving, true scarcity still defines the upper tier of our market.

Buyers Waiting in the Wings Are Still Very Much Out There

One of the biggest mistakes a buyer can make right now is assuming that more inventory means less competition.

I would not make that assumption.

There are still many serious buyers waiting in the wings. Some are local. Many are coming from feeder markets such as New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Some have been looking for months and have already missed opportunities. Others are not actively chasing every listing, but they are absolutely prepared to move when the right property appears.

That is why I continue to tell buyers that readiness matters.

If you are seriously in the market, this is not the moment to be casual. Have your financing lined up. Have your proof of funds ready. Know what matters most to you. And be prepared to make a clean, compelling offer quickly if the right home comes along.

Because even in a market with improving inventory, you will rarely be the only buyer paying attention.

Well-priced properties still get immediate interest. Special properties still attract strong attention. And the most compelling opportunities - especially in the luxury segment - often do not linger.

Very Few True “Deals” Last Long

Many buyers hear that inventory is rising and immediately wonder whether better deals are coming with it.

In my view, true deals in our market are still rare.

Of course, every market has exceptions. Sometimes a property needs more work than buyers first anticipated. Sometimes a seller’s timing becomes a factor. Occasionally, there is a brief opportunity where a buyer can step in before the broader market reacts.

But in the coastal markets I serve, well-priced opportunities tend to get recognized quickly.

That is because there are too many informed buyers watching closely. Buyers today are sophisticated. They understand the value of location. They understand scarcity. They understand that homes with long-term appeal in prime coastal areas are not easily replaced.

So when something compelling appears, it tends to get scooped up.

That is why I often say that in today’s market, especially at the high end, you are not necessarily paying for a “deal.” You are paying for the opportunity.

You are paying for the opportunity to secure a foothold in a market that remains difficult to enter.

You are paying for access to a specific coastline, a specific neighborhood, a certain view, proximity to the beach, or the rare chance to own something that may not come around again for years.

That is how many serious buyers are thinking today, and frankly, I think it is the right way to think in markets like ours.

In the Luxury Market, Buyers Need To Think Beyond Today’s Dollars

This is particularly true when it comes to high-end purchases.

Many luxury purchases in our area are not short-term decisions. They are often generational decisions. These are homes meant to be enjoyed not just for a season or two, but for many years — sometimes by multiple generations of the same family.

That changes the conversation.

When a buyer is looking at a prime property in Watch Hill, Weekapaug, Shelter Harbor, or along the coast from Eastern Connecticut through South County, the question should not only be, “Is this expensive in today’s dollars?”

A better question is often: “What would it cost to buy something comparable three to five years from now?”

That shift in perspective can be very important.

In tightly held coastal markets, the best properties do not tend to become more available over time. More often, they become more elusive. Even when the market softens at certain price points, the most desirable homes continue to hold a special position because they are simply not interchangeable.

That does not mean buyers should ignore fundamentals. They still need to evaluate condition, flood exposure, deferred maintenance, carrying costs, utility, and long-term suitability. They should still be thoughtful and disciplined.

But they should also understand that the right property in the right location often needs to be viewed through a longer lens.

There are many families who regret the property they did not buy. There are far fewer who regret having secured the right home in the right place and holding it over time.

What Buyers Should Be Doing Right Now

If you are actively looking for a home, whether at a moderate price point or the luxury end of the market, now is the time to get organized.

Start with the practical side. Make sure your financing is in place before you need it. If you are planning to finance, speak with your lender now. If you are buying with cash, have your documentation current and easily accessible.

Then get clear on your priorities.

What matters most to you? Is it waterfront? Walkability? Privacy? Views? Dock potential? Guest accommodations? Turn-key condition? Long-term family use? Investment quality?

The clearer you are before a property appears, the faster and more confidently you can move when it does.

I would also encourage buyers to stay close to the market beyond what is simply visible online. In our area, some of the most interesting opportunities are discussed privately before they ever become public. Relationships matter. Communication matters. Being known as a qualified and serious buyer matters.

And over the next 45 days, I do think there is a reasonable chance we will see more movement in both on-market and off-market inventory.

That is why preparedness is so important right now.

What Sellers Should Understand

Sellers should also be paying close attention to this shift.

As inventory begins to rise, even modestly, buyers naturally become a bit more selective. They have more to compare. They look harder at condition, pricing, and relative value. That means presentation, positioning, and timing matter even more.

In a very low-inventory environment, simply being one of the few available options could create leverage. As more homes come to market, that alone is no longer enough.

The homes that will perform best are the ones that are thoughtfully prepared, intelligently priced, and marketed in a way that reaches the right audience.

This is particularly true in the luxury segment. If more high-end properties are indeed preparing to come to market in the coming weeks, sellers should understand that early timing may prove advantageous. A compelling property that comes on before the field becomes more crowded can often capture disproportionate attention from buyers who have been waiting patiently for something special.

In luxury real estate, timing and positioning are often just as important as price.

The Bottom Line

The market is offering more opportunity than it was just a few months ago. New listings are rising nationally, and overall inventory is improving.

That same pattern is beginning to show up here along the coastline from Niantic to South Kingstown, including in many of the communities I follow most closely.

But buyers should not confuse improving inventory with easy buying conditions.

At certain price points, there may be more options. In the luxury segment, supply is still relatively limited, even if it is beginning to loosen somewhat. And in the best coastal locations, competition for the right property remains very real.

So if you are in the market for a home - at any price point - be ready to act.

Have your financing ready. Be prepared to move quickly. Understand your priorities. And if you hear of something coming to market that fits your goals, be ready to make the cleanest and strongest offer possible.

Because in our market, there are still very few true deals that last.

The best opportunities tend to be recognized immediately.

And in many cases, you are not paying simply for the property itself.

You are paying for the opportunity to get in.

Geb Masterson, Associate Broker licensed in CT & RI, email: [email protected]