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The best week to buy a home is here — don’t miss this rare October housing window
The Economic Times· 2025-10-13 19:12
Core Insights - The week of October 12 to 18 is identified as the optimal time for homebuyers, offering a favorable combination of affordability, selection, and negotiation power [1][10][13] Mortgage Rates - 30-year fixed mortgage rates have decreased to the low-to-mid-6% range, down from a high of 7.79% in October 2023 [2] - Mortgage rates typically align with the 10-year Treasury yield, which has been between 4% and 4.3% [2] - A $350,000 mortgage at a 6.5% rate versus a 7% rate results in a monthly difference of approximately $117, totaling over $40,000 over 30 years [3] Housing Inventory - Existing home sales reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4 million in August 2025, with housing inventory rising to 1.53 million homes, an 11.7% increase from August 2024 [5] - In the new home market, builders sold homes at an annual pace of 652,000 in July, with 499,000 homes available for sale, indicating a 9.2-month supply, up from 7.5 months in July 2024 [6] Home Prices - Home prices are high but are increasing at a slower rate, with a 0.1% decrease reported in July 2025, while the Case-Shiller National Home Price Index rose 1.7% year-over-year, down from 1.9% in June [7] - Price trends vary by location, with some areas experiencing flat prices or slight decreases, while others face higher demand [7] Rental Market - Rents continue to rise, with primary residence rents and owner's equivalent rent each increasing by 0.3% from June to July 2025, and owner's equivalent rent is about 4% higher than a year ago [8] - A renter paying $1,500 per month would see an increase of approximately $60 monthly due to a 4.1% rise, equating to about $720 more annually [9] Buying Conditions - During the week of October 12 to 18, active listings are expected to be about 32.6% higher than at the start of 2025, with listings receiving about 30.6% fewer views per property compared to peak buying season [10][11] - Listing prices during this week are typically 3.4% lower than yearly highs, potentially saving buyers around $15,000 on a $439,000 home [11][14] - Approximately 5.5% of listings see price reductions, and homes remain on the market about two weeks longer than during busier months, providing buyers with more negotiation leverage [11] Local Market Trends - In 45 of the top 50 metro areas, the best week to buy falls within a month of the October 12 to 18 timeframe, with some regions experiencing optimal buying opportunities slightly earlier or later [12]
