June 2025

📉 National Market Snapshot

1. Buyer’s market emerging
   U.S. housing inventory has climbed to its highest level in five years, exceeding 1 million listings. As a result, roughly 20 % of sellers are lowering prices, and homes now take about 38 days to go under contract—up from 32 last year businessinsider.com+3marketwatch.com+3humrealestate.com+3. Sellers are losing some pricing power, and while mortgage rates remain stubbornly high (~7 %), buyers are starting to breathe easier.

2. New-home sales slump
   May 2025 saw new-home sales drop 13.7%—the lowest since October 2024—and consecutive housing starts hit a five‑year low floridatrend.com+3marketwatch.com+3nar.realtor+3. Builders are reacting with price cuts and incentives (37% of them, per June data), yet affordability issues linger due to mortgage rates and material costs youtube.com+6marketwatch.com+6marketwatch.com+6.

3. Buying tools go digital
   As buyers struggle, platforms like Zillow, Redfin, and Rocket are merging services—from listings to mortgages—to streamline the process marketwatch.com+4barrons.com+4marketwatch.com+4. Consolidation could benefit consumers but raises red flags about competition and potential price inflation.

🏠 Florida Real Estate Scene

1. Commercial boom continues
   Palm Beach County is experiencing near‐record low vacancy rates as financial execs and tech professionals migrate to Florida. Mixed-use hubs—like CityPlace—are thriving with high-end retailers such as Equinox, Alo, and Crate & Barrel 

2. Condo challenges & legislative relief
   Post‑Surfside regulations have driven up HOA fees across the state; some older condos were even priced at $9,000–$10,000 as values plummeted. In response, a July 1, 2025 law eases funding rules for condo‐association reserves—allowing loans, deferred payments, and exemptions for low-rise buildings.

3. Sales slowdown & price cooling
   May 2025 Florida data shows closed sales down across counties—single-family sales off ~11–14% in Broward and Miami‑Dade, condos down ~24–25%. Prices remained firm in Miami‑Dade (~$675K) but dipped slightly (~1–3%) in Palm Beach and Broward. Overall, sellers are now offering incentives and competitive pricing, aligning Florida with the national trend.

🛠️ Consumer Trends & Design

Homebuyers are increasingly focused on quality over square footage. Kitchens with islands and walk-in pantries, outdoor living spaces, traditional designs, and smart‑home integration are top priorities—even in smaller homes.

🎥 Watch This

For a quick market snapshot, check this video:
June 27, 2025 Economic and Housing Market Update (Realtor.com)