The Real Estate Market Isn’t One Thing - It’s a Blender
If you’ve heard someone say, “The market is declining!” - take it with a grain of salt. That kind of blanket statement is one of my biggest pet peeves. Real estate isn’t a single, tidy entity. It’s like saying, “The stock market is up.” Okay, but which part? Tech? Energy? Crypto? Because if your portfolio is down 20%, that headline feels less like insight… and more like an insult.
Real estate is hyper-local. Saying “the market is cooling” without context is about as useful as declaring “the weather is bad.” It depends—are we talking Eau Claire, WI or Sarasota, FL?
Even within one town, the landscape changes: luxury homes vs. starter homes, condos vs. farmland, homes near schools vs. rural properties. These are micro-markets, and they all behave differently.
That’s why I don’t deal in soundbites. I deal in real data, local insights, and nuance. So, let’s zoom out for a moment. Here’s what the national data is telling us one-third into 2025:
Seller concessions are rising: 44.4% of Q1 home sales included concessions—up 5% from last year and just shy of the early 2023 record.
Inventory is growing: Active listings surged 30.6% year-over-year in April, the highest for that month since 2020.
More price reductions: In March, 33.9% of listings had a price cut, the highest March figure in over a decade.
Homes are sitting longer: Median days on market hit 47 in March, the slowest pace for that month since 2019.
More deals under asking + with concessions: 21.5% of Q1 homes sold below list and included a concession, up 3% from last year.
The trifecta is growing: 9.9% of homes sold had all three - concession, price cut, and a sale below asking price.
What’s driving it? Mortgage rates? Stock market jitters? Tariff talk? Maybe all of the above, or maybe just the natural cycle doing what it does.
Here’s what I believe: markets shift…that’s not a red flag, it’s a season. And this season reflects a slow build of affordability challenges, economic nerves, and buyer hesitation finally tipping the balance.
So, are we entering a new chapter? Or just seeing a slow spring start? Time will tell.
But one thing is clear: real estate remains one of the most consistent, reliable ways to build wealth…if you're in it for the long game. In the short term, the market picks winners and losers. But over 5 - 10 years, real estate performs right alongside the best investments. And unlike crypto or the stock market, it comes with a front porch.
Curious What This Means for You?
Let’s talk specifics. Because “the market” doesn’t mean much until it’s your market. I’d be happy to show you a micro-level view tailored to your home, your neighborhood, and your goals.
