Core Viewpoint - The ongoing adjustment in the national real estate market has led to significant price drops in many cities, sparking discussions on whether 2025 is a good time to buy a home. There are differing opinions, with some viewing it as a buying opportunity while others believe there is still room for further declines, suggesting a wait-and-see approach. Group 1: Key Indicators for Home Buying Decision - Monitoring the ratio of mortgage burden to household income is crucial. A healthy standard is that monthly mortgage payments should not exceed 30% of total household income. If first-time buyers are required to allocate over 45% of their income to mortgage repayments, entering the market in 2025 may not be wise [3]. - Examining the disparity between housing prices and personal income is essential. Currently, the price-to-income ratio in second and third-tier cities ranges from 20 to 25, while in first-tier cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, it exceeds 40. A reasonable price-to-income ratio should be between 12 and 15, indicating that families can afford a home without extreme financial strain [5]. - Keeping a close watch on rental price trends is important. Nationwide, rental prices are generally declining, which correlates with decreasing household incomes. For instance, in Shanghai, the monthly rent for a 35 square meter one-bedroom apartment has dropped from 4000 yuan to 3300 yuan [6]. Group 2: Market Trends and Implications - The ongoing decline in rental prices, coupled with high housing prices, is leading more young people to prefer renting over buying. If the trend of falling rents continues, it suggests that housing prices may still face downward pressure [8]. - Not all regions are experiencing the same real estate market conditions. Some cities have seen extreme cases of significant price drops. For example, a residential property in Tianjin's Wuqing district fell from 1.6 million yuan in 2016 to 390,000 yuan, a drop of 1.21 million yuan. Similar situations have occurred in Yanjiao, where a property that peaked at 3.1 million yuan in 2017 is now listed at 680,000 yuan, reflecting a 78% decline [8]. - Even first-tier cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen are not immune to price declines. In Shanghai's Minhang District, the price per square meter dropped from 96,000 yuan in 2021 to 48,000 yuan, nearly halving in just four years. Since early 2022, national housing prices have been on a downward trend for three consecutive years, with an average decline of nearly 30% across the country [8].

Core Insights - U.S. home sales decreased by 1.6% year-over-year in August 2025, marking a decline of 5.5% from July 2025, coinciding with the end of a 17-month growth streak in new listings [1][2][7] - Active inventory increased by 24.4% year-over-year, although it saw a slight decrease of 0.4% from the previous month [2][14] - The median sales price rose by 1.9% year-over-year to $448,000, continuing a trend of annual price gains for 26 consecutive months [2][11] Sales Activity - Home sales in August 2025 were down 1.6% compared to August 2024 and down 5.5% from July 2025 [1][10] - The average close-to-list price ratio remained at 99%, indicating that buyers paid nearly the asking price [7][12] - Homes spent an average of 47 days on the market, which is an increase of eight days from the previous year [3][13] Inventory Trends - The number of new listings fell by 5.9% year-over-year and 9.2% month-over-month, with significant decreases in markets like Trenton, NJ (-44.8%) and Philadelphia, PA (-37.6%) [8][9] - The months' supply of inventory was stable at 2.8 months, up from 2.3 months in August 2024 [7][14] Price Trends - The median sales price across 51 metro areas was $448,000, with notable increases in markets like Manchester, NH (+9.2%) and Coeur d'Alene, ID (+9.0%) [11][12] - The markets with the lowest median sales prices included Cleveland, OH and Wichita, KS, both at $260,000 [5][6] Market Dynamics - Seasonal shifts and broader economic factors are influencing housing market activity, with affordability remaining a challenge despite improvements in mortgage rates [4] - Certain metro areas continue to provide more accessible entry points for buyers, highlighting the importance of local market conditions [4][6]

Core Insights - Home sales increased by 8.6% in May compared to April, but were still 3.5% lower than the same month in 2024 [1][6] - The number of homes for sale rose by 8.3% month over month and 34.8% year over year, marking the 17th consecutive month of inventory growth [2][17] - The median sales price reached $442,000, a nominal increase of 0.6% from May 2024, continuing a trend of price growth for 23 months [2][10] Sales and Inventory Trends - New listings increased by 4.4% from April and 7.9% from May 2024, indicating a sustained upward trend in new inventory [2][4] - The average days on market decreased to 39 days, down from 41 days in April but up from 34 days in May 2024 [8][14] - The months' supply of inventory was 2.5 months, up from 1.9 months in May 2024, reflecting a growing inventory relative to sales [17] Market Performance by Region - The markets with the largest year-over-year increases in new listings included Washington, D.C. (+25.4%), Fayetteville, AR (+25.1%), and Wichita, KS (+23.7%) [4][5] - Conversely, Miami, FL experienced the largest year-over-year decrease in sales at -16.5%, followed by Honolulu, HI at -14.2% [6][9] - The highest median sales price increases were seen in Trenton, NJ (+9.9%), Hartford, CT (+8.5%), and Honolulu, HI (+8.3%) [10][11] Pricing Dynamics - Buyers paid an average of 99% of the asking price in May, consistent with April but slightly below the 100% seen in May 2024 [8][12] - The close-to-list price ratio averaged 99% across the 52 metro areas, with Hartford, CT having the highest ratio at 104.9% [12][13] Days on Market Analysis - The average days on market for homes sold in May was 39 days, with Miami, FL and Fayetteville, AR having the highest averages at 76 days [14][16] - The lowest days on market were recorded in Baltimore, MD (12 days), Washington, D.C. (13 days), and Manchester, NH (14 days) [14] Summary of Market Conditions - The overall housing market shows signs of recovery with rising sales, increasing inventory, and stable prices, suggesting a potentially active summer season ahead [3]

Core Insights - April home sales increased by 11.3% compared to March, but were down 1.4% year-over-year, indicating a mixed market trend [1][6] - New listings rose by 6.2% from March and 7.5% year-over-year, contributing to a growing inventory [1][4] - The median sales price for homes in April reached $440,000, up 1.2% from March and 2.3% from the previous year [2][9] Sales and Inventory - Active inventory across the surveyed metro areas increased by 35.7% year-over-year, marking a significant rise in available homes [2][15] - The months' supply of inventory was 2.3, up from 1.7 a year ago, indicating a more balanced market [15] - Days on market decreased to an average of 40 days, down from 44 days in March, suggesting quicker sales [6][13] Market Performance - The markets with the largest year-over-year increase in new listings included Las Vegas, NV (+27.7%), Burlington, VT (+24.8%), and Fayetteville, AR (+22.5%) [4][5] - Conversely, the largest year-over-year decreases in closed transactions were observed in Miami, FL (-14.1%), New Orleans, LA (-7.6%), and Tampa, FL (-7.2%) [6][8] - The average close-to-list price ratio was 99%, consistent with March but down from 100% in April 2024, indicating a slight shift in buyer negotiation power [11] Price Trends - The median sales price saw the highest year-over-year increases in Cleveland, OH (+10.9%), Hartford, CT (+10.3%), and Birmingham, AL (+9.0%) [9][10] - The markets with the largest year-over-year decrease in median sales price included Bozeman, MT (-4.4%), Honolulu, HI (-2.3%), and Tampa, FL (-1.6%) [9][10] Regional Insights - Miami, FL had the highest months' supply of inventory at 6.9, followed by Honolulu, HI at 5.6 and Tampa, FL at 4.0, indicating a more saturated market in these areas [15][16] - The highest days on market were recorded in Fayetteville, AR (79 days), Miami, FL (78 days), and Orlando, FL (70 days), suggesting slower sales in these regions [13][14]