SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, EDITION

Sales of pre-owned homes rose in July, posting an annual gain for the first time since January. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) feels that “homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years.”

Sales of new homes saw a small dip in July, but prices are also dipping. New home sale prices are down almost 6% the past year, and down over 12% since their 2022 peak, as more builders cut prices and offer incentives.

In July, builders started over 5% more homes than in June, nearly 13% more than a year ago. Builders did take out a tick fewer building permits, as they focused on completions, which were up 6% for the month. 

The NAR’s measure of signed contracts on pre-owned homes posted a small year-over-year gain in July, which the organization put to “modest improvements in housing affordability and inventory.”

The closely-followed Case-Shiller index reported home prices grew in June at the slowest rate in two years. Analysts called this historically significant, as home price growth was lower than inflation for the first time in years.

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae’s latest survey found a growing number of mortgage lenders think the economy is on the right track. And many are focused on streamlining their processes for quicker turnaround times.

DID YOU KNOW?… Mortgage applications for new home purchases rose 7% in July and are up almost 7% from a year ago. During the month, about 62% of builders offered some form of concession.

The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate ticked down to a new 10-month low in Freddie Mac’s latest Mortgage Market Survey. Remember, mortgage rates can be extremely volatile, so check with your mortgage professional for up-to-the-minute information. 

Now is a prime buyer shopping season. Many areas have more homes on the market to choose from—and fewer buyers to compete with. Sellers are also more motivated to close a deal before activity slows down during the holidays.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a bit longer than you expected to sell your home. With the increase in listings, homes are spending a little more time on the market than they did a year ago. But buyers are still showing up, ready to purchase.