In August, the number of homes sold in Williamsburg, VA jumped 52% year-over-year. This means more buyers are finding success, but with inventory still steady, competition is less intense than last year. Buyers have more negotiating power and a better shot at landing a home.
Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred on this day.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to praise all saints.
Soon, All Saints' Day incorporated some traditions of Samhain and the evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.
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Today’s the day to eat candies and sweets to your heart’s content! Happy Halloween!
Current existing-home sales beat estimates, with activity ↑~2% MoM but ↓~2% yearly, showing better-than-expected closings even as the broader pace stayed below year-earlier levels.
The sales snapshot likely lagged current borrowing costs, and the outlook pointed to some further market softening ahead, though the shift was described as manageable.
Current US housing inventory stands at 1.6M homes, still below the 2M to 2.5M range seen as a more traditional supply level.
Even so, inventory has recovered from extreme lows, price growth has slowed, wages are outpacing home-price growth, and buyers now have more leverage.
The market was described as healthy between buyers and sellers, with a gradual return toward normal conditions expected into 2027 and beyond.
Across the US, price reductions became more common as inventory built and homes took longer to sell, giving buyers more room to compare options.
A data update showed ~42% of listings with cuts, above the normal ~30% to ~35% range, while national inventory also expanded recently.
Homes also spent longer on market, with median days rising from 63 to 70, while the national median price slipped from $449K to ~$440K.
More selection shifted negotiations, but buyers still risked overreaching; stronger leverage did not mean any offer would work in every transaction nationally.
The broader US pattern pointed the same way: more listings saw cuts, supply expanded, and homes took longer to sell than earlier in summer.
A housing economist says the condo market is stabilizing after prior weakness, with some metros now seeing condo price gains outpace single-family homes.
Improved affordability is drawing buyers back toward condos, creating a practical option for shoppers seeking lower entry points in active markets today.
Mortgage rates are higher than earlier in 2026, but a housing economist says they remain comfortably below yearly levels for buyers now.
Lower mortgage rates are expected to help more potential buyers qualify and obtain financing, widening access as affordability conditions improve for households.
Buyers should watch condo choices and mortgage qualification closely, because both themes point to more practical paths for entering active markets now.
