Brokers gear up for shifting rates and changing buyer priorities

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reaffirmed expectations for additional rate cuts this year, signaling that the central bank is now more concerned about job growth than stubborn inflation.

Speaking at the National Association for Business Economics conference, Powell said the “balance of risks” has shifted toward employment, noting that hiring has weakened, even as tariffs continue to nudge prices higher.

While economists expect at least two more quarter-point rate cuts, officials remain cautious as competing forces – such as trade policy, AI-driven productivity gains, and reduced immigration – leave the broader economic outlook unusually uncertain.

More buyers are asking about energy-efficient upgrades, reflecting a shift in how sustainability shapes home searches.

According to the National Association of REALTORS^®2025 Residential Sustainability Report, 42% of agents worked with a property featuring green elements in the past 12 months. Cost savings remain the biggest draw, such as lower energy bills and potential tax credits.

Still, affordability concerns limit how much sustainability factors into final decisions. Nonetheless, rising interest suggests that “green” is becoming less niche and more mainstream in the housing market.

Home prices are once again soaring out of reach for many Americans. The latest State of the Nation's Housing report found that the national median home price reached five times the median household income in 2024, nearly matching record highs from the mid-2000s.

In more than three-quarters of major U.S. markets, prices outpaced incomes, with the gap widest in cities like San Jose, Los Angeles, and Miami. With higher rates and larger down payments, affordability challenges are deepening, leaving purchasing a home out of reach for many would-be buyers.

After years of saving “the good plates” for special occasions, homeowners are finally bringing them out more often. A new survey found that while 79% of people own special items reserved for rare events, two in three wish every day could feel like a celebration. Many say they have waited decades to use their cherished dishes, citing fear of damage or cleanup as the main reasons for keeping them reserved for later use.

However, with more accessible kitchen tech and a shift toward enjoying the little things in life, more homeowners are realizing that any meal can be worthy of their fancy dishes.

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