A lot of people are asking the same thing right now: “Is it even a good time to sell?” And the truth may come as a bit of a surprise...
For many homeowners, the answer is a strong yes.
Why? Because of one major factor working in your favor: your equity. Odds are, if you’ve lived in your home for a while, you know you have significant equity. But how much are we really talking about? The number might just change everything about your next move.
The Hidden Wealth of Homeownership
Here’s how it works. When you own a home, you build up something called equity.
Each time you make a mortgage payment, you’re chipping away at your loan balance. And that helps your ownership stake in your home grow. At the same time, home values typically rise – which drives up the overall value of your home.
When you put those two things together, you’re building wealth automatically, month after month, year after year.
And that combo can add up to rea. ...

 
Spring gets all the attention, but it’s not always the best time to sell a house. Yes, more buyers show up, but so do a lot of other sellers.
Winter is different. With fewer homes on the market, your house has a much better chance of standing out. And that one advantage can make a big difference.
Winter Is When Your Listing Stands Out
History shows the number of homes for sale tends to drop during the winter months. It’s a trend that’s predictable almost every year.
Data from Realtor.com shows this pattern clearly. Inventory dips in the winter (the green circles in the graph below), then climbs again as soon as spring approaches:
And based on the latest data available, it looks like that pattern may be true again in 2025. The graph shows the supply of homes for sale is starting to come down as we head into the end of the year. And if history is any indicator of where it goes next, it’ll continue to fall just like it usually does.
Here’s why. ...

 
New home construction today is giving buyers something it feels like they haven't gotten much lately: a real shot at both the home they want and the deal they need. More brand-new options are on the market right now, and builders are rolling out incentives that make these homes more affordable than many people expect.
It’s a combination that doesn’t come around often – and it’s putting buyers in a surprisingly strong position this season. Here’s why this moment matters and why it’s worth partnering with your own local agent to take advantage of it.
1. More New Homes Are Available Now – and That May Not Last
There’s more new construction on the market today than normal. And for buyers, that means:

More cutting-edge communities
More move-in-ready homes
More floor plans to pick from
More upgraded designs and modern features

But that variety may not last.
Data from Zonda shows that even though it feels like new homes ar? ...

 
If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you’ve probably thought: “I’d like to move… but I don’t want to give up my 3% rate.” That’s fair. That rate has been one of your best financial wins – and it can be hard to let go. But here’s what you need to remember...
A great rate won’t make up for a home that no longer works for you. Life changes, and sometimes, your home needs to change with it. And you’re not the only one making that choice.
The Lock-In Effect Is Starting To Ease
Many homeowners have been frozen in place by something the experts call the lock-in effect. That's when you won't move because you don’t want to take on a higher rate on your next home loan. But data from Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows the lock-in effect is slowly starting to ease for some people.
The share of homeowners with a mortgage rate below 3% (the yellow in the graph below) is slowly declining as more peopl. ...

 

Whether it’s at a family gathering, your company party, or catching up with friends over the holidays, the housing market always finds its way into the conversation.
Here are the top three questions on a lot of people’s minds this season, and straightforward answers to help you feel more confident about the market.
1. “Will I even be able to find a home if I want to move?”
Yes, more than you could a year or two ago.
The number of homes for sale has been rising over the past few years. According to data from Realtor.com, there have been more than one million homes on the market for six straight months, something that hasn’t happened since 2019 (see graph below):
That means two things:
Buyers have more options.
Sellers have more places they can move to next.
Many homeowners who held off are realizing the shelves aren’t bare anymore. So, if you hit pause on your home search last year because nothing fit your needs, it may be worth anot. ...