If you’ve been watching from the sidelines, now’s the time to lean in. It’s officially the best time to buy this year. According to Realtor.com, this October will have the most buyer-friendly conditions of any month in 2025:

“By mid-October, buyers across much of the country may finally find the combination of inventory, pricing, and negotiating power they’ve been waiting for—a rare opportunity in a market that has been tight for most of the past decade.”

So, if you’re ready and able to buy right now, shooting for this month means you should see:

• More homes to choose from
• Less competition from other buyers
• More time to browse
• Better home prices
• Sellers who are more willing to negotiate

Just remember, every market is different. For most of the top 50 largest metros, that sweet spot falls in October. But the peak time to buy may be slightly earlier or later, depending on where you live. As Realtor.com explains:

“While Oct. 12–18 is the national “Best Week,” timing can shift depending on the local markets. . .”

Best Week To Buy for the Top 50 Largest Metro Areas

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: September 28 – October 4
• Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX: September 28 – October 4
• Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD: October 12 – 18
• Birmingham, AL: October 19 – 25
• Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: October 26 – November 1
• Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY: October 12 – 18
• Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC: November 2 – 8
• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: September 28 – October 4
• Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN: October 12 – 18
• Cleveland, OH: October 12 – 18
• Columbus, OH: October 12 – 18
• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: September 28 – October 4
• Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO: October 12 – 18
• Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: October 12 – 18
• Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI: September 28 – October 4
• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT: September 21 – 27
• Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: October 12 – 18
• Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN: October 26 – November 1
• Jacksonville, FL: October 26 – November 1
• Kansas City, MO-KS: October 12 – 18
• Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV: October 5 – 11
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: October 12 – 18
• Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN: November 2 – 8
• Memphis, TN-MS-AR: September 21 – 27
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: November 30 – December 6
• Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: September 7 – 13
• Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: October 26 – November 1
• Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN: October 12 – 18
• New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: September 14 – 20
• Oklahoma City, OK: October 12 – 18
• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL: October 26 – November 1
• Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: September 7 – 13
• Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ: November 2 – 8
• Pittsburgh, PA: October 12 – 18
• Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA: October 26 – November 1
• Providence-Warwick, RI-MA: October 19 – 25
• Raleigh-Cary, NC: October 12 – 18
• Richmond, VA: October 26 – November 1
• Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: September 28 – October 4
• Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA: October 12 – 18
• San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX: October 12 – 18
• San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: October 12 – 18
• San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA: October 12 – 18
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: October 19 – 25
• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: October 19 – 25
• St. Louis, MO-IL: October 12 – 18
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: November 30 – December 6
• Tucson, AZ: October 12 – 18
• Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC: September 21 – 27
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: October 12 – 18

What the Experts Are Saying

And Realtor.com isn’t the only one saying you’ve got an opportunity if you move now. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains:

“Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price. Current inventory is at its highest since May 2020, during the COVID lockdown.”

Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, puts it like this:

“Nationally, now is a good time to buy, if you can afford it . . . with falling mortgage rates and significantly more inventory, buyers have an upper hand in negotiations.”

And NerdWallet says:

“This fall just might be the best window for home buyers in the past five years.”

How To Get Ready for this Golden Window

To make sure you’re ready to jump in whenever your market’s best time to buy arrives, talk to a local agent now. They’ll be able to give you more information on your market’s peak time, why it’s good for you, and the steps you’ll need to take to get ready.

If you’re serious about buying, getting prepped for this October window is a smart play.

Want help lining up your strategy? Let’s have a quick conversation so you’ve got the information you need to be ready for this prime buying time.

You’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for mortgage rates to finally budge. And last week, they did – in a big way.

On Friday, September 5^th, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to the lowest level since October 2024. It was the biggest one-day decline in over a year.

What Sparked the Drop?

According to Mortgage News Daily, this was a reaction to the August jobs report, which came out weaker-than-expected for a second month in a row. That sent signals across the financial markets, and then mortgage rates came down as a result.

Basically, we’re seeing signs the economy may be slowing down, and as certainty grows in the direction the economy is going, the markets are reacting to what is likely ahead. That historically brings mortgage rates down.

Why Buyers Should Pay Attention Now

But this isn’t just about one day of headlines or one report. It’s about what the drop means for you.

This recent change saves you money when you buy a home. The chart below shows you an example of what a monthly mortgage payment (principal and interest) would be at 7% (where mortgage rates were in May) versus where rates roughly are now:

Compared to just 4 months ago, your future monthly payment would be almost $200 less per month. That’s close to $2,400 a year in savings.

How Long Will It Last?

That really depends on where the economy and inflation go from here. Rates could drop lower, or they could inch up slightly.

So, make sure you’re connected with a good agent and trusted lender. They’ll keep a close eye on inflation indicators, job market updates, and reactions to upcoming Fed policy to gauge where mortgage rates may go from here.

But for now, focus on this. While no one can say for sure where rates are headed, the fact that rates broke out of their months-long rut is a good thing. If you’ve been feeling stuck, this could make the start of a new chapter. As Diana Olick, Senior Real Estate and Climate Correspondent at CNBC, says:

“Rates are finally breaking out of the high 6% range, where they’ve been stuck for months.” 

And that’s gives you more reason to hope than you’ve had in quite some time.

This is the shift you’ve been waiting for.

Mortgage rates just saw their biggest decline in over a year. And if rates stay near this level, it could make a home you couldn’t afford just a few months ago feel possible again.

What would today’s rates save you on your future monthly payment? Let’s connect so you can find out.

There are plenty of headlines these days calling for a housing market crash. But the truth is, they’re not telling the full story. Here’s what’s actually happening, and what the experts project for home prices over the next 5 years. And spoiler alert – it’s not a crash.

Yes, in some local markets, prices are flattening or even dipping slightly this year as more homes hit the market. That’s normal with rising inventory. But the bigger picture is what really matters, and it’s far less dramatic than what the doom-and-gloom headlines suggest. Here’s why.

Over 100 leading housing market experts were surveyed in the latest Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES) from Fannie Mae. Their collective forecast shows prices are projected to keep rising over the next 5 years, just at a slower, healthier pace than what we’ve seen more recently. And that kind of steady, sustainable growth should be one factor to help ease your fears about the years ahead (see graph below):

And if you take a look at how the various experts responded within the survey, they fall into three main categories: those that were most optimistic about the forecast, most pessimistic, and the overall average outlook.

Here’s what the breakdown shows:

• The average projection is about 3.3% price growth per year, through 2029.
• The optimists see growth closer to 5.0% per year.
• The pessimists still forecast about 1.3% growth per year.

Do they all agree on the same number? Of course not. But here’s the key takeaway: not one expert group is calling for a major national decline or a crash. Instead, they expect home prices to rise at a steady, more sustainable pace.

That’s much healthier for the market – and for you. Yes, some areas may see prices hold relatively flat or dip a bit in the short term, especially where inventory is on the rise. Others may appreciate faster than the national average because there are still fewer homes for sale than there are buyers trying to purchase them. But overall, more moderate price growth is cooling the rapid spikes we saw during the frenzy of the past few years.

And remember, even the most conservative experts still project prices will rise over the course of the next 5 years. That’s also because foreclosures are low, lending standards are in check, and homeowners have near record equity to boost the stability of the market. Together, those factors help prevent a wave of forced sales, like the kind that could drag prices down. So, if you’re waiting for a significant crash before you buy, you might be waiting quite a long time.

If you’ve been on the fence about your plans, now’s the time to get clarity. The market isn’t heading for a crash. It’s on track for steady, slow, long-term growth overall, with some regional ups and downs along the way.

Want to know what that means for our neighborhood? Because national trends set the tone, but what really matters is what’s happening in your zip code. Let’s have a quick conversation so you can see exactly what our local data means for you.

After years of it feeling almost impossible to find a home you want to buy, things are changing for the better.

Nationally, inventory is growing, and that gives you more options for your move. But here’s what you need to know. That level of growth is going to vary based on where you live. And that’s why you need an agent’s local market expertise.

Here’s a quick rundown of the current inventory situation, so you know what’s happening and what to expect.

Significant Growth Across the Nation

Nationally, the number of homes for sale is rising – and that’s true in all regions of the country. That’s shown in this data from Realtor.com. In each of the four regions, inventory is up at least 19% compared to the same time last year. In the West, it’s actually up almost 41% year-over-year (see graph below):

There are two main reasons for this increase:

• More sellers are listing their homes. Many homeowners have been waiting for mortgage rates to drop before making a move. Now, some have decided they can’t wait any longer. May had more new listings than any May in the past three years.
• Homes are taking longer to sell. That means listings are staying on the market longer, which increases the total number of homes available. In May, the typical home took 51 days to sell – much closer to what’s more typical for the market.

More homes for sale helps the market become more balanced. For the past few years, sellers have had the upper hand. Now, things are shifting. Nationally, it’s not a full-on buyer’s market yet, but it’s heading toward a healthier place, especially for homebuyers. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains:

“The number of homes for sale is rising in many markets, giving shoppers more choices than they’ve had in years . . . the market is starting to rebalance.”

How Much Growth We’ve Seen Varies by Area

But, how long it’s going to take to achieve true balance is going to vary by area. Some parts of the country are seeing inventory bounce all the way back to normal levels, while others haven’t grown quite that much yet.

Let’s take a look at another graph. This time, we’ll compare the current data (what you already saw) to the last normal years in the housing market (2017-2019).

In this comparison, the green shows which regions are back at more typical levels for inventory based on the growth we’ve seen lately. The red shows where things have improved, but are still well below the norm (see graph below):

Here’s what that means for you. Across the board, you have more options now than you would’ve just one year ago. And that’s a really good thing. More choices means it should be a bit easier to find a home you love.

But not all markets are the same – some will take a bit longer to get back to more typical levels. So, lean on a local agent to find out what the inventory situation looks like where you want to live. They’ll be able to tell you how much growth they’ve seen locally and how to tailor your home search based on what’s available in that area. This is just one of the reasons a local agent’s perspective matters.

Inventory is getting better, but how long it takes to get back to normal is going to be different based on where you’re looking to buy. Let’s talk about what’s happening in our local market and how it affects your next move.

What’s one thing you’ve noticed lately that makes the market feel different than it did a year or two ago?

Especially in areas where inventory is rising, both homebuilders and sellers are sweetening the deal for buyers with things like paid closing costs, mortgage rate buy-downs, and more. In the industry, it’s called a concession or an incentive.

What Are Concessions and Incentives?

When a seller or builder gives you something extra to help with your purchase, that’s called either a concession or an incentive.

• A concession is something a seller gives up or agrees to in order to reach a compromise and close a deal.
• An incentive, on the other hand, is a benefit a builder or seller advertises and offers up front to attract and encourage buyers.

Today, some of the most common ones are:

• Help with closing costs
• Mortgage rate buy-downs (to temporarily lower your rate)
• Discounts or price reductions
• Upgrades or appliances
• Home warranties
• Minor repairs

For buyers, getting any of these things thrown in can be a big deal – especially if you’re working with a tight budget. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says:

“. . . they can help reduce the upfront costs associated with purchasing a home.”

Builders Are Making It Easier To Buy

It’s not just one builder willing to toss in a few extras. A lot of builders are using this tactic lately. As Zonda says:

“Incentives continued to be popular in March, offered by builders on 56% of to-be-built homes and 74% of quick move-in (QMI) homes, which can likely be occupied within 90 days.”

That’s because they don’t want to sit on inventory for too long. They want it to sell. And according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), one of the strategies many builders are using to keep that inventory moving (and not just sitting) is a price adjustment (see graph below):

Around 30% of builders lowered prices in each of the first four months of the year. While that also means most builders aren’t lowering prices, it also shows some are willing to negotiate with buyers to get a deal done.

This isn’t a sign of trouble in the market, it’s an opportunity for you. The fact that the majority of builders offer incentives and roughly 3 in 10 are lowering prices means if you’re looking at a newly built home, your builder will probably try to make it easier for you to close the deal. 

Existing Home Sellers Are Offering More, Too

More existing homes (one that someone has lived in before) have been hitting the market, too – which means sellers are facing more competition. That’s why over 44% of sellers of existing homes gave concessions to buyers in March (see graph below):

And, if you look back at pre-pandemic years on this graph, you’ll see 44% is pretty much returning to normal. After years of sellers having all the power, the market is balancing again, which can work in your favor as a buyer.

But remember, concessions don’t always mean a big discount. While more sellers are compromising on price, that’s not always the lever they pull. Sometimes it’s as simple as the seller paying for repairs, leaving appliances behind for you, or helping with your closing costs.

And considering that home values have risen by more than 57% over the course of the past 5 years, small concessions are a great way for sellers to make a house more attractive to buyers while still making a profit.

Whether you’re looking at a newly built home or something a little older, there’s a good chance you can benefit from concessions or incentives.

If a seller or builder offered you something extra, what would make the biggest difference to help you move forward?

Let’s talk about it and see if it’s realistic based on inventory and competition in our local market.

If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of homes for sale over the past few years, here’s some good news. You have more options, so it may finally be time to kick off your home search again. As Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, explains:

“Now is the best time to buy in the last two years. Mortgage rates are comparable to what they were two years ago, and prices remain high. However, there is significantly more inventory . . .”

The number of homes for sale has grown compared to last year, and even more options are on the way. While this is typical for the busy spring season, here’s why this is so important right now.

Homeowners are listing their houses at the highest pace we’ve seen in a while.

New Listings Are on the Rise

Over the past few months, the number of new listings, or homes that have recently been put on the market for sale, has been steadily rising (see graph below):

Basically, more people are putting their homes on the market each month – whether they’re moving up, downsizing, or relocating. And this trend is a positive sign for the housing market.

Sellers who may have been on the fence the past few years are starting to jump back in. That’s helping to boost overall inventory and create better opportunities for both buyers and move-up sellers alike.

But it’s not just that the number of fresh options is up month-over-month; there’s also been a jump compared to last year.

According to Realtor.com, new listings in March were 10.2% higher than last year, making it the biggest March for new listings since 2021 (see graph below):

For anyone who’s been waiting for more choices, this is exactly what you’ve been hoping for – because more homes coming onto the market means more options and a better shot at finding one that fits your needs.

To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the latest listings for your area, lean on a local real estate agent.

If you’re thinking about making a move this spring, now may be the time to start exploring your options. With more fresh listings hitting the market, you may find a home you love waiting for you.

What features or neighborhoods are at the top of your wish list?