Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest point in years. Because of that, monthly payments are getting a little cheaper. This is bringing buyers back. More people are touring homes and making offers again. At the same time, something else is happening. For the past few years, many homeowners didn’t want to sell because they had very low interest rates. This is called the “lock-in effect.” Now that rates are easing, some of those homeowners are finally willing to move. That means more homes may start hitting the market. What this means for you (RBKS style): - Buyers: You don’t need perfect rates — you need a plan. Buying power is improving, but good homes still go fast. - Sellers: Waiting too long could mean more competition later. Early movers often get better attention and pricing. - Agents & investors: Demand is rising faster than supply. That gap creates opportunity for people who are prepared. Bottom line:The market isn’t exploding — it’s shifting.People who understand the shift early make smarter moves.

Here’s a simple look at what’s happening with the existing homes right now. 🔢 What’s Going On - Home sales went up a little (0.5%) in November. - About 4.13 million homes would sell in a year at this pace. - The median price is around $409,200, a bit higher than last year. - There is about 4.2 months of homes for sale – more than last year, but still not “plenty.” So: 📈 Sales are slowly rising. 💵 Prices are not crashing. 🏘 There still aren’t tons of homes to pick from. 🤔 What This Means for You - Don’t wait for a huge “crash” — that’s not what the data shows. - You may have more choices than buyers had in 2023, but you still need: A clear budget A plan A pre-approval when you’re ready - Your local area (your city/county) can look very different from the national numbers. 🔗 Want to See the Real Data? Here are solid, trusted sources you can read or save: - National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) – Existing-Home Sales November 2025:https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/nar-existing-home-sales-report-shows-0-5-increase-in-november - NAHB summary of the same report (simple breakdown):https://www.nahb.org/blog/2025/12/existing-home-sales-up-in-november - Calculated Risk blog breakdown (for data nerds):https://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2025/12/nar-existing-home-sales-increased-to.html 💬 Comment Prompt Questions? Drop this in the comments: - State: ___ - Goal: buying in 6, 12, or 24+ months (or “just learning”) - Question: one thing this update makes you worry about or feel hopeful about

Here’s what’s happening right now in the housing market — and what it means for you. 1️⃣ Affordability Just Hit a 2.5-Year High 💸📉 A new report from ICE Mortgage Technology shows that home affordability is the best it’s been in about 2.5 years, mainly because mortgage rates have eased from their peak earlier in 2025. - 30-year fixed: mid–6% range - 15-year fixed: mid–5% range So no, rates aren’t “cheap”…but they’re not as painful as they were. 2️⃣ The Catch: Prices + Inventory 🏠📈 Even with slightly better affordability, ICE is seeing: - 🧱 Home prices starting to firm up again instead of dropping - 📉 Inventory tightening in many areas - 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ More buyers stepping back in as rates improved Translation:Slightly lower rates are helping, but: - Sellers aren’t slashing prices - There still aren’t enough homes in many markets 3️⃣ What This Means For You (In Any State) 🌎 - ❌ Don’t wait around for 3% rates — experts don’t see that coming back any time soon - ✅ Focus on what you can control: - 🔁 Even a 0.5% rate change can make a real difference in your monthly payment - 🗺 Local markets > national headlines 4️⃣ If You’re In This Community, Here’s Your Next Move 🔑 - 📚 Go to Building Your Buying Power lessons→ Tighten up your credit, DTI, savings, and readiness - 🧭 Use The Buying Blueprint→ So you’re ready when the right house and rate line up - 📰 Watch the Real Estate News category→ Get used to asking Questions! ___________________________ References for this data: 🔗 ICE Mortgage Monitor – October 2025 report (home affordability 2.5-year high):https://mortgagetech.ice.com/resources/data-reports/october-2025-mortgage-monitor If you want a more readable media summary of the same data, you can also reference: 🔗 Article summarizing the report:https://www.mpamag.com/us/mortgage-industry/market-updates/good-news-for-homebuyers-as-affordability-hits-25-year-high/552081

🏡 Real Estate Update: Mortgage Rates Are Easing (Nov 2025) (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mortgage-rates-fall-sharply-on-expectations-of-a-fed-rate-cut-will-they-keep-on-dropping-from-here-18d03650) Mortgage rates have finally moved down a bit after a long stretch of higher rates. Recent reports show the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropping into the low 6% range. That’s still higher than the 3% days, but it’s noticeably lower than the 7%+ we’ve seen over the last couple of years. What’s going on: - Rates are easing as inflation cools and markets expect future Fed rate cuts - Lower rates are bringing more buyers back into the market - Some sellers are adjusting prices after a slower period What this means for you: - A small drop in rates can reduce your monthly payment - It can also help you qualify for a slightly higher price range (if the rest of your numbers are solid) - You don’t need to rush, but you should understand how your payment changes as rates move How to use this: - If you’re 3–12 months out, use this time to work on credit, debt, and savings - Learn your numbers now so you’re ready to move when the right home and rate window line up for you - If you want help seeing “what would my payment look like at today’s rates,” post in the community with your state and rough price range

The federal agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is raising the “conforming loan limit” again for 2026. (https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-conforming-loan-limit-values-for-2026) In simple terms, this is the maximum loan size that can still be treated as a standard conforming loan instead of a jumbo loan. Key points: - The baseline conforming loan limit for 1-unit homes will move into the low–$800,000s in most areas - High-cost areas will have limits over $1.2 million - This change is happening because average home prices have continued to rise Why this matters: - Most first-time buyers won’t shop near those limits, especially in more affordable markets - But higher limits help keep more homes in the standard “conforming” box instead of pushing buyers into jumbo loans - Conforming loans usually have more flexible guidelines and more program options How to use this: - If you are shopping in a higher price range, ask your lender what the conforming limit is in your county - Find out at what price point your loan would become “jumbo” - For most entry-level buyers, this is good background info, but your focus should still be on budget, DTI, and down payment