With Mortgage Rates Declining, Homebuyers Must Decide: Buy Now With Little Competition, Or Bet on Rates Falling More?
Redfin reports pending home sales are up just 0.8% from a year ago, with many house hunters hoping rates will drop substantially more. But if that were to happen, sellers would regain the upper hand and home prices would likely rise more.
This week’s median monthly housing payment is
Prices are rising despite slow sales because new listings are dwindling. Pending home sales are up just 0.8% from a year earlier, the smallest increase in two months. New listings are up just 1.1%, marking the third straight month they have increased or decreased by about 1% or less, and total listings are up 9.9%, the smallest increase since
Mortgage rates have dropped to 6.35% from roughly 6.9% at the start of the summer because of weaker-than-expected jobs reports and anticipation of the Fed’s first interest-rate cut of the year, which came this week. While falling mortgage rates and more purchasing power have brought some house hunters off the sidelines, many are hoping rates drop further before making a move, according to Redfin agents.
“It is definitely a buyer’s market here,” said
For Redfin economists’ takes on the housing market, please visit Redfin’s “From Our Economists” page.
Leading indicators
Indicators of homebuying demand and activity |
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|
Value (if applicable) |
Recent change |
Year-over-year change |
Source |
Daily average 30-year fixed mortgage rate |
6.22% ( |
Near lowest level in a year |
Essentially flat |
|
Weekly average 30-year fixed mortgage rate |
6.35% (week ending |
11-month low |
Up from 6.2% |
Freddie Mac |
Mortgage-purchase applications (seasonally adjusted) |
|
Up 3% from a week earlier (as of week ending |
Up 20% |
|
Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index |
|
Down 7% from a month earlier (as of week ending |
Down 13% |
A measure of tours and other homebuying services from Redfin agents |
Google searches of “homes for sale” |
|
Up 11% from a month earlier (as of |
Up nearly 30% |
Google Trends |
Touring activity |
|
Up 21% from the start of the year (as of |
At this time last year, it was up 8% from the start of 2024 |
ShowingTime |
Key housing-market data
Redfin’s national metrics include data from 400+ |
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|
Four weeks ending |
Year-over-year change |
Notes |
Median sale price |
|
2.2% |
Biggest increase in 5 months |
Median asking price |
|
2.9% |
Biggest increase in 4 months |
Median monthly mortgage payment |
|
5.2% |
Up |
Pending sales |
79,437 |
0.8% |
Smallest increase in 2 months |
New listings |
89,670 |
1.1% |
|
Active listings |
1,205,479 |
9.9% |
Smallest increase since |
Months of supply |
4.5 |
+0.4 pts. |
4 to 5 months of supply is considered balanced, with a lower number indicating seller’s market conditions |
Share of homes off market in two weeks |
30.7% |
Down from 32% |
|
Median days on market |
45 |
+6 days |
|
Share of homes sold above list price |
24.4% |
Down from 28% |
|
Average sale-to-list price ratio |
98.5% |
Down from 99% |
|
Metro-level highlights: Four weeks ending
Redfin’s metro-level data includes the 50 most populous |
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|
Metros with biggest year-over-year increases |
Metros with biggest year-over-year decreases |
Notes |
Median sale price |
|
|
Declined in 4 metros |
Pending sales |
|
|
|
New listings |
|
|
|
To view the full report, including charts, please visit:
https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-update-mortgage-rates-decline-homebuyer-decision
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Source: Redfin