Market News August 15

Market Updates

Buyer Opportunities On the Rise


If you're having a busier week than usual, you're not alone. The daily average mortgage rate dropped to its lowest level in nearly a year, moving more buyers off the sidelines. Clients who qualify for a 6.55% mortgage rate have gained around $20,000 in purchasing power since May's 7.08% rate.

There's more good news for buyers: home prices are still rising, but losing steam. The median U.S. asking price rose just 2.3% year over year during the four weeks ending August 3rd, one of the smallest increases in two years. Additionally, only 26.6% of homes are selling above asking price, down from 31% a year ago.

In addition to more inventory for buyers to check out, more sellers are willing to negotiate. Agents report that many sellers in the Bay Area, Phoenix, Washington, D.C. and coastal Florida are open to negotiating. Some are even offering deals such as financing closing costs or repairs to help finalize a sale.

There's one potential hitch: rates may fluctuate as more economic data is released in the coming weeks, causing would-be buyers to lose their current advantage.1

Build a Content Library With Legs


You already know that social media works best when you post frequently, but you may not have the time to prepare new content every week. However, you don't need to publish something brand-new every time. Instead, build your own content library with plenty of "recyclable" messages.

Follow these steps and you'll be ready for anything the market throws at you.

Create a list of questions you answer frequently. These will probably include common concerns, such as buyers wondering about low appraisals, down payments, and timing the market. Sellers often ask about preparing their home for sale, and how to manage viewings.

Prepare one new content item every week. This way you won't feel overwhelmed. Think of a topic that you can post every few weeks or months. Don't overthink it, just think about past client interactions, and write your content is as if you're talking to them about their concerns.

Use multiple content formats. For example, you can prepare an email, social media post, blog post and even a meme for each new content idea.

Keep track of top performers. While there's no guarantee that it'll be as big a hit the next time it's published, you'll eventually learn which content performs consistently. You can use this knowledge to write more popular content.2

FHA Foreclosures Rising


June 2025 saw the largest single-month increase in mortgage delinquency rates since 2007, as they rose by nearly 5% from the preceding month. Loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) saw the highest percentages of delinquencies. Currently, around 208,000 mortgages are in foreclosure, with FHA loans making up around half of all seriously delinquent loans.

If you're thinking of offering assistance to homeowners whose loans are delinquent or in foreclosure, contact me so we can discuss their options.3

Be the Pied Piper of TikTok


Even if you're not new to the TikTok platform, you may not have discovered all of the tips and tricks you can use to draw more visitors to your posts. One that's actually easier to use than you might think is to check out the most popular songs on TikTok and use them as background to one or more of your video posts.

Not only do TikTok users tend to remember the song, the video that featured the track often sticks in their minds as well. Yours may also be picked up by a TikTok algorithm and viewed by those who don't follow you...yet.

Some songs are instrumental, so combining them with an appropriate post, such as a walk-through of a listing or a neighborhood, can be fairly easy. Others can be ideal for a particular type of post. For example, this trending Connie Francis song from 1962 could be ideal when you feature a property that's appropriate for a young couple.4

Be Safe 24/7 With Tether RE

Even though NAR's RealtorĀ® Safety Month doesn't begin until September, it's never a bad time to consider your own safety, both in and out of the office. One way to do this is to subscribe to an app that covers all the bases, even when you're alone.

One popular safety platform, Tether RE, understands your daily routines and provides coverage for virtually all of them. Features include:
  • Timed check-ins to keep you safe during property showings
  • Special alarms that will contact EMS and/or your emergency contacts.
  • Real-time GPS tracking used by Tether dispatch.
You'll also be able to check out a new prospect before arranging a meeting, as Tether provides tools for running background checks, checking phone numbers, and viewing property ownership records.

To learn about Tether's range of features and benefits, or to sign up for a free trial, visit Tether RE online.5

Sources: 1redfin.com, 2lightersideofrealestate.com, 3nationalmortgageprofessional.com, 4rbuffer.com, 5tetherre.com