National News

RE/MAX: Seattle home sales rise year over year in July 

Nationally, home sales rose 0.6% year over year but slid 0.7% month over month, RE/MAX said. 

NAR: High inventory puts homebuyers in their ‘best position’ since pandemic lockdown

The association said the housing market is making a definitive swing back in the direction of the buyer thanks to wage growth, slowing home-price gains and rising inventory. 

Housing starts rise again in July thanks to multifamily sector 

The single-family sector managed to eke out a slight monthly gain, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Builder confidence remains low in August with dip in sentiment survey 

The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index slid a point to 32, reflecting ongoing negative sentiment in the homebuilding industry. 

Commissions return to pre-settlement level in Q2 

The gain in the average buyer’s agent commission is the third quarterly increase since the National Association of REALTORS® changed its commission rules last August. 

The average Realtor has 12 years of experience — and plans to stay in the industry for at least a few more

NAR’s report — which surveyed nearly 5,000 Realtor members — also found that the typical agent took on 10 transactions in 2024, the same as a year prior.

US home price growth slows in June, signaling shift toward buyer’s market

As the spring homebuying season ended, U.S. home price growth softened significantly, opening the door to improved affordability.

mortgage applications
MBA: Mortgage applications rise as mortgage rates slide on weakening U.S. economy 

Home-purchase activity remained elevated from 2024, but a cloudy economic outlook has deterred some would-be homebuyers. 

US housing market sees rising inventory, slower price growth and more negotiation room

After years of fast-paced home sales, tight inventory and relentless price growth, the U.S. housing market may finally be entering a new chapter.

VA Home Loan Reform Act becomes law 

The law helps delinquent VA borrowers and allows them to pay buyer-agent commissions when house shopping. 

NAR: Pending home sales decline in June despite inventory increase

Geographically, the only region to post a monthly increase in pending sales was the Northeast, where they rose 2.1%, according to NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index.

Case-Shiller: Seattle home-price growth dips in May as national market undergoes ‘slow unwind’

Nationally, the pace of home-price appreciation declined to its slowest pace in almost two years, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. 

Who’s moving to Seattle?

A new report from U-Haul identified the most common states of origin for do-it-yourself movers who relocated to Seattle.

Matthew Gardner’s Q2 2025 market insights

Real estate economist Matthew Gardner joins Agent Publishing Co-Publisher Anne Hartnett to unpack the biggest housing trends from the second quarter, plus the potential impact of a new Fed chair and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

New-home sales climb in June as median price dips 

The inventory of new homes for sale surged year over year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.    

NAR: Existing-home sales price hits all time high in June 

At the same time, the pace of existing-home sales declined from May’s level. 

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