OCTOBER 16, 2025, EDITION

Pending Home Sales—the measure of signed contracts on pre-owned homes—ended the summer strong, up 4% in August, and nearly 4% ahead of a year ago, with all regions of the country seeing annual gains.

The closely followed Case-Shiller national index reported home prices rose in July just 1.7% annually, the slowest pace in two years. They concluded, “the housing market appears to be settling into a new, more measured equilibrium.”

October’s ICE Mortgage Monitor found that the monthly principal and interest payment on an average-priced home fell to 30% of the median U.S. household income, the best level of affordability since early 2023.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported, “Purchase activity continues to show moderate growth on an annual basis,” although it slipped a tiny bit for the week, while more buyers opted for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).

Owning a home is becoming more attractive than renting. The median national rent is holding steady at $2,295 a month, while homes for sale are seeing more price cuts—last week, more than 40% of active listings.

A new study found that nationally there were over 72% more condo sellers than buyers in August—the fifth straight month with at least a 70% difference—resulting in the strongest buyer’s market for condos in 12 years.

DID YOU KNOW?… A new survey revealed 82% of respondents use AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) for insight into the housing market. But agents were “rated the most accurate source of market information, ahead of AI, family and friends, and the news.”

Freddie Mac’s latest Mortgage Market Survey reported the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped a tick, as “rates have settled in at their lowest level in about a year.” Remember, mortgage rates can be extremely volatile, so check with your mortgage professional for up-to-the-minute information. 

Realtor.com says now is the best time to buy: “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.”

Home values have risen, but it’s important to get your price right when you’re ready to sell. If you price too high, you’ll have to do a price cut and buyers often see that as a red flag that something’s wrong with the house, and you could wind up having to take it off the market