Market News April 24

Market Updates

Today's Market News:

Now's A Great Time for Your Sellers to List


A recent analysis of seasonal home sales found that late April can be beneficial to sellers in several ways. Two sources — consultancy Home Economics and Redfin — provided data for this report.

These advantages were identified:

Sellers get stronger offers. Homes listed at the end of April are 18% more likely to sell above their original asking price than any other time.

Prices are higher. The median home-sale price is 4% higher for homes listed at the end of April. This is the biggest premium of the year. That's because there are more buyers and more competition — and also because more move-in ready homes with popular features tend to be listed in the spring.

Homes sell faster. Sellers want to sell quickly, and during the last two weeks of April, their homes are 17% more likely to sell in 14 days or less than during other months.

Buyers have fewer homes to consider. Sellers face less competition at the end of April than later, as there are typically 8% fewer homes for sale at this time than during the summer.

These reports did find regional differences that may affect your sellers. On the West Coast, March is typically the best time to put a home on the market, while May is the best month for East Coast sellers.

Data used to create this report is from 2015-2019 and 2023-2025. The years 2020-2022 were excluded because the pandemic skewed seasonal effects during that time.1

Home Financing Applications Rising


If home sales in your territory have been slow, a recent analysis found that the spring market is seeing a positive boost. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) recently released their Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 17th, 2026, which saw a 7.9% rise in applications when compared to the previous week.

The MBA's seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 10% from one week earlier this year, and was 14% higher than the same week in 2025.

"Mortgage rates declined last week as financial markets responded positively to the Middle East ceasefire and the lower trend in oil prices, with the 30-year fixed rate decreasing to 6.35%," said Mike Fratantoni, MBA's SVP and Chief Economist.2

Pending Home Sales Rise in March


The latest NAR Pending Home Sales report found that these increased by 1.5% during March 2026 but still saw a 1.1% annual decline.

Here are the month-over-month pending home sales percentages for each region:

  • The Northeast came first, with a 4.4% increase, but still saw an annual decrease of 6.5%.
  • Sellers in the South saw a 3.9% increase in March when compared to February, together with a 2.3% annual increase.
  • The West region experienced a 2.6% decrease and a 1.7% year-over-year decrease.
  • Midwest sellers saw a 1.3% decrease in March 2026 when compared to the previous month, and a 3.1% annual decrease in pending home sales.
These five markets posted the largest annual increases in pending home sales:
  • Kansas City, MO-KS (+14.9%)
  • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (+13.5%)
  • Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (+12.8%)
  • Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (+12.1%)
  • Raleigh-Cary, NC (+10.0%)
Runners-up in the largest annual increases included Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro OR-WA, Richmond VA, and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk VA-NC.3

Home Features That Sell Homes


Similar to clothing styles and automotive models, popular home features and designs change frequently. A few years ago, buyers wanted a modern farmhouse; this year, they want Victorian, Tudor and mid-century homes.

Recently Zillow introduced the Zillow Buzz Index, which determines the interior features and architectural styles that are drawing more buyers. Currently, these are the top five features that are making buyers fall in love with the properties that offer them:

  • Exposed beams, 19.7 %
  • Victorian, 19.3 %
  • Exposed brick, 14.9 %
  • Open shelving, 14.7 %
  • Tree house, 14.6 %
Homes with the most daily views and saves tend to find a buyer faster and are more likely to sell above list price.

Other popular styles include midcentury homes and A-frames, as both are getting a 13% boost in daily buyer engagement. Log homes (12%), bungalows (11%) and Cape Cod-style architecture (11%) also have strong screen appeal; so do homes with saltwater pools and outdoor showers.4

Improve Your Listing Descriptions with These Buzzwords

Even if you've only been in the real estate business for a few months, you may be struggling to compose descriptions for your property listings. Words like cozy, charming and unique probably need a rest.

However, help is just a click away, as this article provides you with over 300 words and phrases that tell buyers how well you know your properties. Here are some examples.

Your introduction can mention these features popular with buyers: energy-efficient, pet-friendly, move-in ready, modern amenities, security systems, and smart home.

Want to emphasize a property's location? Try quick commute to, pedestrian-friendly, serene, cul-de-sac, coveted, prime location or tranquil.

Luxury properties and their features may be described as fine craftsmanship, pedigree, artisan, private retreat, exclusive and bespoke.

Older homes are popular, especially if they've been carefully restored. Try phrases like preserved architecture, restored beauty, original character and period property.5

Sources: 1redfin.com, 2mba.org, 3nar.realtor, 4zillow.mediaroom.com, 5theclose.com