- House the Market?
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- It's giving mixed signals
It's giving mixed signals
is the market hot or not? who can say.
Michaela To
May 12, 2025
The rumors are true: the market is wonky (technical term).
Every conversation I’ve had with an agent lately sounds the same: Offer dates come and go…and crickets. Buyers are hesitant. No urgency. They’re waiting for the one. The perfect house in the perfect location at the perfect price and a kitchen that sparks joy (yes, someone actually said that). And with more inventory to choose from, they’re waiting. And scrolling. And waiting some more.
Meanwhile, sellers are doing mental math that isn’t quite mathing. “We bought for $$$ and now we’re selling for that?” Yes, that’s happening too.
These are the deals buyers were begging for back when everything sold in 48 hours with five backup offers. Now that they’re here, buyers are dragging their feet. And when they do write (as long as it’s not the same perfect house everyone else wants too), they’re negotiating hard. Credits, repairs, closing costs, kidneys, anything goes.
So moral of the story:
Sellers → Gone are the days where you name your price and expect a bidding war to appear. Price for where the market is today, not where you wished it would be, or even where it was last month.
Buyers → You finally have leverage. Don’t let overthinking turn your dream home into someone else’s. This window won’t last forever. The tides may already be turning: mortgage applications rose 11% just last week. And a listing my buyer toured sat for a whole month… but suddenly got 3 offers over the weekend!
Everyone → Call me if you potentially fall in either category. 😉
Technically Fine, Emotionally Bankrupt
(Source: Giphy)
The stats say we should be thriving. Unemployment is low. Wages are up. Inflation is (mostly) cooling. So why does everything still feel… off?
Welcome to the Annoyance Economy (a term economists coined back in 2023). Spoiler alert: the annoyance hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s what happens when the numbers look good on paper, but your bank account didn’t get the memo. Real life still feels expensive, exhausting, and unpredictable.
Because it’s not just about the math. It’s the mood. The lack of stability. The emotional toll of constant economic whiplash. (And there’s plenty of that lately.)
Technically, paychecks are growing faster than inflation. But tell that to your grocery bill. Or your landlord. Or that stubborn interest rate that you’ve been waiting to come down.
People aren’t being (totally) dramatic. They’re just stuck in the frustrating space between expectations and reality. The spreadsheets may be calm, but the vibes are not.
(Ok buyers, I get it now.)
Ok Boomer… You win the housing market (again)
(Source: Giphy)
Who’s running the housing market right now? Your parents! Really.
Boomers are back on top, making up 42% of home buyers, leaving Millennials behind at 29% after a brief moment in the spotlight.
So what changed? Boomers have one thing Millennials don’t: EQUITY. They’re walking into open houses throwing around cash offers. Meanwhile, Millennials — priced out and rate-shocked — are relying on financing and family. 27% of younger Millennials got help with their downpayment (hi, Bank of Mom and Dad).
Gen X is out here doing the most. They have the highest incomes ($130K median), but they’re also juggling multigenerational living with their aging parents, adult kids, and Costco stockpiles — all under one roof.
Gen Z is just getting started. They’re only a tiny 3% of buyers, but 30% of them are single women purchasing homes. They have the lowest incomes and the highest solo status of any group. *Cue Beyonce* (you already know the anthem)
Basically, the boomers are back. Buying foreverever homes, unbothered by interest rates, and turning those paid-off mortgages into big moves.
Wildfires? Not today, Satan.
(Source: Giphy)
Berkeley just passed the EMBER Ordinance, which means that if you live in a wildfire-prone area, you have until January 1, 2026 to clear all flammable materials within five feet of your home.
So what has to go? Your mulch. Your slightly leaning wooden trellis. Your lavender bush. Yes, that one you planted to cope with the anxiety of living in a wildfire zone.
The first on the list are the ~850 homes near Tilden Park and Panoramic Hill. The average cost to comply is about $2,900. If you ignore it, you’re looking at fines up to $500 a day. But the good news: Berkeley has $1M available in grants. Because fire safety shouldn’t require a second mortgage. Crazy concept, I know.
Not sure if this applies to your home? Let me know, and I’ll help you figure that out before the lavender police show up.
SHARING IS CARING
Know someone looking to buy or sell a home? Whether they’re in the Bay Area or across the country, I can help! Reply with their contact info, and I’ll handle the rest. Referrals come with endless good vibes and a lifetime supply of gratitude. 💌
