Real estate agents say the housing market is starting to balance out: CNBC Housing Market Survey

 MORTGAGE RATES DIDN’T MOVE MUCH IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 2025, AND WHILE HOME PRICES DID EASE A BIT, THERE WAS A MAJOR SHIFT IN HOW REAL ESTATE AGENTS
 MORTGAGE RATES DIDN’T MOVE MUCH IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 2025, AND WHILE HOME PRICES DID EASE A BIT, THERE WAS A MAJOR SHIFT IN HOW REAL ESTATE AGENTS

NOW SEE THE MARKET. DIANA OLICK JOINS US RIGHT NOW WITH CNBC’S QUARTERLY HOUSING MARKET SURVEY. GOOD MORNING DIANA.GOOD MORNING BECKY. AND THIS IS OUR SECOND EDITION OF THE SURVEY. SO WE CAN NOW MAKE COMPARISONS. WE’RE DOING THIS AGAINST A MORTGAGE RATEBACKDROP WHERE THE AVERAGE RATE ON THE 30 YEAR FIXED DROPPED SHARPLY IN Q3, BUT THEN STAYED IN A NARROW MARGIN IN Q4, JUST

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41 secondsBETWEEN 6.2 AND 6.4%. STILL, OF THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS WE SURVEYED IN Q4, MORE SAID IT WAS A BALANCED MARKET RATHER THAN THE BUYER’S MARKET THEY

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49 secondsWERE SEEING IN Q3. THAT IS LIKELY BECAUSE CONSUMERS BECAME LESS CONFIDENT IN THE ECONOMY AS JOB LOSSES GREW. WE HEARD THAT FROM HEATHER DELL IN DETROIT.

WERE SEEING IN Q3. THAT IS LIKELY BECAUSE CONSUMERS BECAME LESS CONFIDENT IN THE ECONOMY AS JOB LOSSES GREW. WE HEARD THAT FROM HEATHER DELL IN DETROIT.

59 seconds>> THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MOVING AND THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAD WERE DEFINITELY SLOWED DOWN

1 minute, 5 secondsFAR, FAR LESS BY INTEREST RATES THAN THE INTRINSIC FACTORS, THE COST OF LIVING AND THE COMPLETE UNCERTAINTY IN SO MANY MARKETS.

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, CAR INSURANCE AND UTILITIES AND MEDICAL INSURANCE.

1 minute, 21 seconds>> THIS IS LIKELY WHY MORE AGENTS REPORTED PRICE CUTS. 92%

1 minute, 24 secondsOF AGENTS IN Q4 HAD AT LEAST ONE SELLER CUT THE PRICE,

1 minute, 28 secondsVERSUS 89% IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. AND IN FACT, NEARLY HALF OF THE AGENTS SAID THE MAJORITY OF THEIR SELLERS CUT PRICES. OF COURSE, CUTTING

1 minute, 36 secondsPRICES IS NOT HIGH ON A SELLER’S WISH LIST. SO WE DID SEE MORE AGENTS WITH LISTINGS.

1 minute, 41 seconds51% REPORTED HAVING TO PULL AT LEAST ONE HOME OFF THE MARKET,

1 minute, 44 secondsCOMPARED WITH 40% IN Q3. BUT WE ARE NOW IN A NEW YEAR, AND DESPITE WHAT WE SAW IN Q4, FAR MORE AGENTS EXPECT SALES TO IMPROVE IN THE COMING QUARTER.

1 minute, 53 secondsNEARLY 65% ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER TIMES. THERE IS MORE INVENTORY ON THE MARKET NOW,

1 minute, 58 secondsAND SOME AGENTS TOLD US THEY THINK CONSUMERS ARE STARTING TO GET USED TO CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. NOT THRILLED ABOUT THEM, OF COURSE, BUT LESS

2 minutes, 6 secondsUNCERTAINTY. NOW THERE’S MUCH MORE FROM THE SURVEY UP NOW ON CNBC.COM. BACK TO YOU DIANA.