Mortgage rates tick down — but will the drop entice buyers?
A rise in inventory is giving homebuyers more choices, but economic uncertainty and affordability continue to drag on sales.
May 1, 2025
Dave Gallagher
Director, News Reporting
Dave's journalism career spans 24 years covering business, the economy and real estate in Northwest Washington. He's also a numbers nerd, examining data to spot emerging trends in industries. Having started his career as a sports writer, he's a lifelong baseball and soccer fan and recently discovered pickleball. He grew up in Yosemite National Park and earned his journalism degree at Humboldt State University in northern California.
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- Is it starting to look rosy for buyers this spring?A new Bright MLS survey suggests a rise in inventory is making it easier for buyers to find their next home.April 30, 2025
- Homes.com looks to gain ‘solid’ leadership position in 2-4 yearsCoStar CEO Andy Florance said the company is ready to take advantage of industry changes “with a superior product and aggressive marketing campaign.”April 29, 2025
- Hope for home sales wanes in revised forecastFannie Mae’s latest report anticipates the market will remain sluggish until the end of 2025, but there is a potential for improvement in 2026.April 29, 2025
- Zillow gains more support for new listing policyA third brokerage has endorsed the portal’s pro-MLS stance. Meanwhile, Zillow is phasing out its two-tab search display for markets with no commingling rules.April 26, 2025
- Can an ‘AI agent’ get homebuyers to the finish line?A newly launched proptech company with Zillow roots offers tools to guide buyers through a transaction without representation or “agent pressure.”April 25, 2025
- Existing sales lethargic in March despite slowing price growthThe pace of sales lagged behind last year’s rate, with mortgage applications and demand signals declining as economic uncertainty continues to take a toll.April 24, 2025
- New home sales experience ‘surprising’ boostHomebuyers embraced lower mortgage rates in March before new tariffs were announced, causing home sales to jump amid persistent economic concerns.April 23, 2025
- CRMLS says ‘no thanks’ to NAR's delayed marketing optionThe MLS contends that the policy offers no benefits to consumers and was created to “placate” the “powerful, national brokerages” that oppose Clear Cooperation.April 22, 2025
- Home value forecast takes a rare negative turnZillow’s predicted difference from March 2025 to March 2026 went from barely positive to down 1.7%. And ongoing economic uncertainty isn’t helping.April 21, 2025
- Mandatory NAR membership facing a new legal challengeThe Georgia case joins a handful of others as agents argue they are being forced to pay unnecessary association fees to gain access to listings.April 19, 2025
- Buyers back off, sellers face reality as slowdown continuesEconomic experts warn home sales may begin to slow as concerns about the economy and fluctuating mortgage rates give potential homebuyers pause.April 17, 2025
- Builders already seeing costs rise despite tariff pausesWhile confidence edged up in April, builders are concerned about future sales as supplier price hikes stand to add nearly $11,000 to the cost of a new home.April 16, 2025
- HomeServices’ new CEO ready to ‘go back on offense’Chris Kelly is eager to move past the challenges of the past 18 months and focus on unifying and growing the company, with agents and consumers at the core.April 16, 2025
- Gino Blefari steps down as HomeServices CEOAfter more than 5 years in the top role, Blefari, now chairman emeritus, is handing off the reins to Chris Kelly, the company's executive vice president.Updated April 16, 2025
- Could home prices stall — or reverse course — in 2025?Fannie Mae economists are scaling back their price growth estimates for the year as mortgage rates hang around 7%, and some analysts believe prices could fall.April 15, 2025
- Sellers motivated by rates, bullish on sale pricesA new Realtor.com survey indicates homeowners thinking about selling are closely monitoring mortgage rates as they await the right moment to enter the market.April 14, 2025
- Gibson judge refuses to step downJudge Stephen Bough will continue to oversee the case despite efforts by multiple defendants to have him removed over an alleged conflict of interest.April 11, 2025
- Two directions for home sales amid economic turmoilConsumer anxiety could "freeze the housing market" — or encourage buyers and sellers to act if they expect things to get worse.April 10, 2025
- Canadian lumber taxes could further increase new home costsIndependently of other recent tariffs, the U.S. is preparing to more than double levies on softwood lumber from Canada, and builders should “plan accordingly.”April 9, 2025
