By the Numbers

The employment data is good news for workers, but it means the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut rates later this month, keeping borrowing costs elevated.

Population growth is slowing, which means fewer new households — and fewer new homes needed. But immigration is still a wild card.

Weekly averages moved closer to 7%, but upcoming labor market reports could change the trajectory.

Over a third of existing homeowners — and 43% of those over 60 — say they don’t plan to ever sell their home, a Redfin survey found.

Consumer sentiment was relatively high in December, largely driven by expectations of declining mortgage rates in 2025.

While rates have risen by nearly a percentage point since late September, buyers appear to have “recalibrated expectations” — and home sales have improved.

2024 was supposed to be the year that home sales bounced back, but rates, inflation (and buyers) had other plans.

It’s (still) all about home prices. Inventory is up, but much of it is stale, while flattening rents are keeping renters in their homes longer.

In a recent poll, 37% of remote workers said they would look for a new job if asked to come back to the office full time, citing the commute as a key factor.

“Buyers and sellers are gradually returning” but inventory could take a hit if homeowners stay locked in to their lower rates, experts say.

But there is still competition for homes, especially at lower price points, where first-time buyers cross paths with buyers on the investment side.

Existing home sales rebounded in November, pushing annual sales past the 4 million mark. A big jump in mortgage rates may quash momentum, however.

Look for just two cuts next year — half the number previously forecast — as the Federal Reserve predicts inflation will remain high.

Expect a “solid year for new home sales,” modest declines in mortgage rates, and a faster pace of wage growth, Fannie Mae and Veterans United experts predict.

One measure in the monthly index stood out, however, as builders responded with more optimism about where the market is headed in 2025.

While some trends have been consistent across the U.S., four states exemplify regional variability in 2025: Texas, California, Florida and Virginia.

After several atypical years, the real estate market is expected to settle into a new normal, with lower rates, more sales and improving affordability.

Panelists at NAR’s economic summit expect a better year overall, but pointed to various wildcards that could tug the market in different directions.

Rates have dropped for a third consecutive week, and buyers appear to be responding. But where rates go next is uncertain, and short-term volatility is likely.

Homeowners who bought in the early 2020s have lots of equity, and life events are motivating moves — even if they have to give up their low mortgage rates.