“The Market is…” and other Half-baked Headlines
One of my biggest pet peeves? When talking heads confidently declare, “The market is [insert dramatic proclamation here],” as if real estate is one neat, tidy, monolithic beast. Spoiler: it’s not.
It’s like saying, “The stock market is up.” Great. But... which part? Tech? Energy? Crypto? Because if your 401(k) is looking more like a 201(k), that upbeat summary feels less like a helpful insight and more like someone handing you a band-aid for a broken leg.
Here’s the truth: “The market” is just a blender. And inside that blender? A wild mix of excellent, average, and downright “what is happening here” properties—each one diced up with its own set of variables. You hit purée, and suddenly everyone’s drinking from the same frothy generalization.
In residential real estate, the market is hyper-local. So when someone says, “The real estate market is hot/cold/dead/alive,” it’s about as useful as saying, “The weather is bad.” Bad where? Portland? Palm Springs? Pluto?
And it gets even more nuanced. Within a single town—or even a zip code—you’ve got micro-markets. Think: entry-level condos vs. luxury estates. Homes near top schools vs. ones next to that one guy who owns 14 roosters. Everything matters: price point, property type, proximity to parks, public transit, and your favorite taco truck.
So no, we can’t reduce all that glorious chaos to a clickbait headline (though, oh boy, do people try). That’s why I don’t give cookie-cutter market takes. Instead, I zoom out, peek into the blender, and offer you some real insight into what the macro data says as we cruise into the second act of 2025.
Here’s what the data’s whispering (okay, maybe yelling):
🧾 Seller concessions are on the rise:
44.4% of Q1 home sales included some kind of concession—up 5% from last year and just shy of the record set in early 2023 (aka the mortgage rate buy-down bonanza era).
🏠 Inventory is stacking up:
Active listings in April jumped 30.6% year-over-year, hitting a five-year high. You have to go back to pre-pandemic 2020 to find this much real estate on the menu.
✂️ Price cuts are back in style:
33.9% of listings had a price reduction in March—the highest March cut-rate in over a decade. Discounts are in. Gucci belts are out.
⏳ Homes are sitting longer:
Median days on market hit 47 in March—the longest March chill time since 2019. Buyers are taking their sweet, rate-watching time.
💸 More deals below asking plus concessions:
21.5% of Q1 closings included both a concession and a sale below asking—up about 3% from last year. That’s a double scoop of buyer leverage.
🧃 The "Real Estate Trifecta" is trending:
9.9% of homes sold in 2025 so far came with all three: a price cut, a concession, and a final sale below list. That’s up 2% from 2024. We’re calling it the real estate smoothie. (Tastes like... opportunity.)
So, what’s causing all this?
Is it the tariff talk? The moody stock market? Mortgage rates that refuse to be chill? Maybe. Maybe not. Honestly, this feels more like the long-overdue result of affordability pressure, economic weirdness, and buyer fatigue finally nudging the scale in a new direction.
🌦️ Are we entering a new season—or just a slow spring?
My take: markets change. That’s what they do. It’s not doom or drama. It’s just the cycle cycling. And while headlines will always try to tell you otherwise, real estate remains one of the steadiest long-game plays around. Over 5–10 years? It performs like a champ. Over 5–10 months? It might feel more like a mood ring.
Bottom line: If you're in it for the long haul, you're in good company—and good shape.
And if you're curious how your specific property, portfolio, or dream-home-in-the-making fits into this blender of a market? Let’s talk. I’m here to break it down, cocktail napkin optional.