Here is your real estate news for Friday, July 18th.
Today’s Real Estate News (July 18, 2025):
Builders Offer ‘Outrageous’ Incentives
Builder confidence remains low at 33, with 38% cutting prices and 62% offering incentives like rate buydowns and closing-cost help. Despite incentives, weak demand and ~7% mortgage rates are expected to limit single-family starts in 2025.
Harvard Warns of Affordability Crisis
A Harvard Joint Center report finds U.S. home sales at a 30‑year low, with prices up ~60% between 2019–2024 (median reaching $441,738 by mid‑2025). The price-to-income ratio is now 5.0, far above the 3.0 standard. Renters are increasingly cost-burdened, foreclosure risks rising, and affordable rental supply shrinking.
Mortgage Rates (July 18, 2025):
30‑Year Fixed: 6.82%
15‑Year Fixed: 6.07%
30-Year Jumbo: 6.92%
10‑Year Treasury Yield: 4.42%
In the competitive real estate market, staying informed is crucial for both buyers and sellers. By understanding mortgage trends, housing market shifts, and the broader economic environment, individuals can make well-informed decisions. This knowledge can lead to more effective pricing strategies, better investment timing, and smoother transactions. For buyers, tracking mortgage rates can help them secure more favorable terms, while sellers who know their local market trends can set more competitive listing prices. Overall, staying updated on these topics not only helps real estate professionals serve their clients better, but also empowers everyday buyers and sellers to achieve their property goals.
Thanks for reading,
Chris
