Industry News
As we head toward the close of 2025, November’s housing data confirms what many REALTORS® are seeing on the ground: buyer demand remains steady, inventory remains tight, and prices continue to show long-term resilience—despite seasonal slowdowns.
Across NCJAR’s footprint the market continues to favor well-priced, well-prepared listings, while buyers are becoming more deliberate in their decision-making.
Below is what matters most for your business.
The Big Picture (All NCJAR Markets)
Across all property types combined:
- Median sales price rose to $610,000, up 3.4% year-over-year
- Closed sales dipped 6.2%, reflecting seasonal and affordability pressures
- Days on market increased to 35 days, signaling a more balanced pace
- Inventory remains constrained at 1.9 months of supply
This is a market normalization where strategy matters more than ever.
At midnight on September 30, Congress failed to approve funding for government operations, triggering a partial government shutdown. While not every federal program is affected, several housing and mortgage-related programs are being suspended or slowed. Here’s a summary of how key agencies and programs may impact your business and clients during this period.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Most EPA employees are furloughed. This affects regulatory programs like wetlands determinations under the 404 program and enforcement of lead-based paint disclosure and renovation, repair, and painting rules.
NAR Staff Contact: Russell Riggs –
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD’s contingency plan allows some housing programs to continue, though many are reduced:
The latest Existing-Home Sales Report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) shows that home sales remained largely unchanged in August, dipping just 0.2% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.0 million units. While sales were steady, trends in inventory, pricing, and mortgage rates reveal important signals for both REALTORS® and their clients.
Key Highlights
Month-Over-Month (August vs. July)
- Sales: Down 0.2% to 4.0 million units (SAAR).
- Inventory: Down 1.3% to 1.53 million units, equal to 4.6 months’ supply.
Year-Over-Year (August 2025 vs. August 2024)
- Sales: Up 1.8%.
- Median Price: Rose 2.0% to $422,600, marking the 26th consecutive month of annual price increases.
National Snapshot
- Total Sales: 4.0 million (SAAR), up 1.8% year-over-year.
WASHINGTON (August 21, 2025) – The latest NAR Existing-Home Sales Report shows signs of renewed energy in the market. Nationally, sales rose 2.0% in July, with inventory and affordability conditions giving buyers more options than they’ve had in recent years.
For NCJAR members, these numbers offer talking points for client conversations and insights into where opportunities are emerging.
Key Takeaways for Your Business
- More Buyers Entering the Market: Existing-home sales are up 2.0% month-over-month and 0.8% year-over-year. This growth reflects improving affordability as wage increases begin to outpace home price growth.
- Inventory at Highest Since 2020: With 1.55 million homes on the market nationwide, buyers have more choices — and REALTORS® have more opportunities to match clients with the right property.
- Prices Holding Steady: The national median home price edged up just 0.2% to $422,400, suggesting a balanced market where negotiation is back on the table.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun summed it up: “Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price.”
