It’s easy to get lost in headlines, predictions, and market noise.
But let’s break it down simply—what’s actually happening in today’s real estate market, and what does it mean for buyers and sellers?

Inventory Is Growing, Slowly but Steadily

2025 is shaping up to bring more homes to market. According to forecasts:

Altos Research predicts a 15% increase in existing home inventory
ATTOM estimates 13.5%
Realtor.com projects an 11.7% bump

Meanwhile, new construction inventory is the highest it’s been since 2009—
115,000 completed new homes were for sale as of January 2025.

What this means for buyers: More choices. Less competition. The ability to be more selective.

Sellers: Be Ready to Compete

As Realtor.com’s Hannah Jones puts it:

“With more choices available, buyers can afford to be more selective, putting pressure on sellers to price competitively.”

Translation? If you’re thinking about selling, strategy matters more than ever—
Pricing, staging, and marketing will make or break your results.

Homeowners Are Sitting on a Mountain of Equity

Here’s some perspective:
68.6% of homeowners either own their home outright or have more than 50% equity.

39.3% own their home free and clear
29.3% have more than 50% equity

That’s a ton of leverage and flexibility, especially if you're considering a move but unsure about timing.

What About Prices?

Despite the uncertainty, most experts still forecast appreciation in 2025:
Average forecast: +2.8%

Higher-end predictions include:

Wells Fargo: +4.9%
AEI Housing Center: +4.5%
Goldman Sachs: +4.4%

Yes, there are a few bearish outliers (like Morgan Stanley at -2.0%),
but the consensus says home values are still rising—just at a more sustainable pace.

No, We're Not Heading for a Foreclosure Crisis

Foreclosure activity remains historically low—less than 1/8 of what we saw during the 2008 housing crash.

Why?
Because today’s homeowners are financially stronger and sitting on more equity.
They're better prepared to handle market shifts without defaulting.

Recession ≠ Housing Crash

Even in times of economic slowdown, home values have held strong.
During the last 6 recessions, home prices increased in 4 of them.

Only two saw price declines:

1991: -1.9%
2008: -19.7% (a very different, finance-driven crisis)

The Real Threat? Confusion.

“When people are confused, they all do the same thing—nothing.”

It’s easy to freeze with so much mixed info out there.
That’s why clarity matters.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, let’s talk through your goals and options.
The market is shifting—and having a plan makes all the difference.

Bottom Line:

Buyers have more inventory and leverage than they’ve had in years
Sellers still hold equity and value—but need a solid game plan
Fear and confusion are the real risks

If you’re ready to make a move—or just want to make sense of your options—we’re here to help.

Call/Text: 480.256.2995
Email: Value@BUYAZRE.com
Visit: BUYAZRE.com

What’s Really Happening in the Housing Market Right Now?