Monthly Archives: June 2025

Among all generations, millennials were the most likely to say they plan to buy a house in the next six months, according to the results of a new survey from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website. The survey found 23 percent of Millennials intend to buy this year. That’s up from just 15 percent last September. Laura Eddy, the website’s vice president of research and insights, says Millennial interest has increased but mortgage rates are still a factor. “Despite current market challenges and persistently high mortgage rates, Millennials are showing a notable increase in home buying interest this spring compared to last fall,†Eddy said. “Even though we found a change in Millennial home buying intent, the influence of mortgage rates cannot be overstated, with the vast majority of Americas, including Millennials, prioritizing lower rates before committing to a purchase.†That helps explains why the survey also found that 69 percent of Americans say they aren’t planning on entering the market in the next six months. (source)

There are 1.4 million vacant residential properties in the United States. That’s about 1.3 percent of all homes. It’s also about the same number of vacant homes as there have been for the past 13 straight quarters, according to new data from ATTOM Data Solutions. ATTOM’s 2025 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report shows the vacancy rate has been steady now for more than three years. Rob Barber, ATTOM’s CEO, says that’s good news for just about everybody. “Thankfully, we’re not seeing a lot of homes sitting vacant due to pending foreclosures, which is good for families, neighborhoods, and the market,†Barber said. “However, foreclosure filings have shown a recent uptick – with April seeing a 14 percent increase compared to the same month last year. So far, buyers seem to be scooping up these repossessed homes relatively quickly, so they aren’t sitting empty.†The states with the lowest vacancy rates included New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Idaho, and Connecticut. (source)

The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index tracks the number of contracts to buy homes signed each month. Contract signings are considered a forward-looking indicator of future home sales because a home’s sale isn’t typically finalized until several weeks after the contract to buy is signed. That means any increase or decrease in the NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index is likely to show up in future existing-home sales data. In April, the index found signings down 6.3 percent from March. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says home buyers’ position is improving despite the decline. “Home buyers have a better chance to purchase homes in affordable regions such as the Midwest, where the typical home price is $313,000 – 25 percent below the national median home price,†Yun said. “Moreover, with housing inventory levels reaching five-year highs, home buyers in nearly every region of the country are in a better position to negotiate more favorable terms.†Regionally, sales increased from last year in the Midwest, remained flat in the Northeast, and fell in the South and West. (source)