CoStar Group(US:CSGP) Businesswire·2026-01-21 21:30Core Insights - Homes.com released a report analyzing home price trends through December 2025, indicating a moderate appreciation in home prices across major metros and house types [1] Home Price Trends - The nationwide median home price is projected to rise by 1.1%, from $376,025 in December 2024 to $380,000 in December 2025 [2] - Homebuyers have experienced median sale prices between $370,000 and $395,000 for 22 consecutive months, with seasonal variations typically peaking from May to August and dipping from December to March [2] Affordability Analysis - The combination of subdued price appreciation, higher incomes, and lower mortgage interest rates has improved homeownership affordability in 2025, marking the first year-over-year improvement since 2020 [3] - In December 2024, buyers of a median-priced home spent 2.0 weeks of earnings monthly on mortgage payments, while by December 2025, this requirement decreased to 1.8 weeks due to a 3.75% increase in average weekly earnings and a drop in mortgage rates [4] Market Dynamics - The inventory of homes available for purchase increased by 17% in 2025, while the earnings needed to buy a median home declined by over 9% during the same period [5] - The Midwest region experienced the highest home price appreciation, with Saint Louis leading at 7.7% from December 2024 to December 2025, while some Texas markets, such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, saw declines of -4.9% and -3.8%, respectively [5] Market Reach and Brand Awareness - Homes.com reached an audience of 115 million average monthly unique visitors in Q3 2025, with consumer brand awareness increasing from 4% to 33% following a significant marketing campaign launched in February 2024 [9][10]