Market Overview

The U.S. housing market is shifting from the pandemic frenzy and tight-and-frozen conditions toward gradual balance: prices sit near record highs as inventory builds, mortgage rates drift lower, demand cools, and sales normalize—giving buyers renewed leverage and breathing room (NAR, Realtor.com, Freddie Mac).. National Association of REALTORS®RealtorFreddie Mac

Prices & Sales

• Existing-home median price (June): $435,300 — an all-time high, +2% YoY. Sales pace: 3.93M SAAR, with 4.7 months’ supply. National Association of REALTORS®+1

• National median list price (July): $439,990 (+0.5% YoY). Essentially flat for two months. Realtor

• Median sale price (July, Redfin): $443,471 (+1.2% YoY). Homes sold down ~2.1% YoY; median 43 DOM; ~2.01M homes for sale (+7.2% YoY). Redfin

• Case-Shiller (May): national prices +2.2% YoY, –0.3% MoM (SA)—momentum is cooling. FREDAdvisor Perspectives

Mortgage Rates

• 30-year fixed ~6.58% (Aug 14), the lowest since Oct—a modest tailwind for demand. Freddie MacFox Business

Construction & New Homes

• Housing starts (July): 1.428M SAAR (+5.2% MoM). Single-family: 939k (+2.8% MoM); multifamily: 470k. Census.gov

• New-home sales (June): 627k SAAR; median $401,800 (–2.9% YoY). Builders continue using incentives where needed. Census.gov

Rental Market

• Rents +2.6% YoY (July): slower than June; typical new renter spends ~29.9% of income on rent. SFR rents +3.4% YoY; multifamily +2.1%. Zillow

Supply, Leverage & Regional Split

• Active listings are climbing nationally and in many Sun Belt metros; buyer conditions are incrementally improving. Realtor+1

• Some regions (e.g., parts of the West/South) show flat-to-down list prices; Northeast remains comparatively firmer. RealtorNational Association of REALTORS®

What It Means (Quick Takes)

• Buyers: More choices + slightly lower rates = stronger negotiating power (credits, repairs, rate buydowns).

• Sellers: Price to the market and win on presentation; expect longer DOM in many metros.

• Investors: New-build and SFR rentals benefit from softening rent growth but healthier entry cap rates; watch local supply pipelines.

Snapshot (save this)

• Price level: record/near-record but cooling momentum. National Association of REALTORS®Advisor Perspectives

• Inventory: rising; national ~2.01M active; 43 DOM. Redfin

• Rates: ~6.6% and easing. Freddie Mac

• Starts: 1.428M SAAR; New-home sales: 627k SAAR. Census.gov+1

• Rents: +2.6% YoY (cooling). Zillow

Content & Deal-Flow Playbook (use this on socials)

• “Is the Market Finally Balancing?” – explain prices at highs but momentum cooling; show DOM + inventory charts. National Association of REALTORS®Redfin

• “Rates at 10-Month Low: What It Buys You Now” – payment examples at 6.6% vs. 7+. Freddie Mac

• “New Construction vs. Resale” – incentives + quicker delivery vs. location/character. Census.gov+1

• “Rent vs. Buy in 2025” – rents cooling; how ownership pencils with credits/2-1 buydowns. Zillow.