Today's Market News:
Sellers Relist at a Record-Breaking Pace...
Earlier this year, seller relistings hit the highest January figure in ten years. New Redfin data for 2026 reflected an increase of 7.9% during January (year-over-year). Sellers are feeling optimistic, as nearly 45,000 homes that were delisted last year were relisted for sale in January.
Agents are hoping that sellers are feeling better about this year's market than last September, when close to 85,000 sellers delisted their properties. Some were frustrated by buyer demands of concessions, while others watched potential buyers leave the market because of still-high home prices and an uncertain economy.1
...But Buyers Are Still Nervous
High prices, global conflicts and economic uncertainty are putting a damper on current buyer enthusiasm, even as median monthly housing payments slid 2.8% year-over-year.
During the four weeks ending March 1st, these median payments dropped to $2,591, largely because of the weekly average 30-year mortgage rate dropping below 6% the week ending February 26th. However, the weekly average mortgage rate was back to 6% the week ending March 5th.
On the other side of the housing payment equation, the median home-sale price rose 1% year-over-year to $381,750. Prices are rising because, despite slow buying demand, inventory is actually declining in some areas. In addition, there are still a limited number of desirable homes for sale, which creates competition and modestly pushes up prices.
Overall, homebuying demand in much of the country is tepid because even though housing payments have declined, they're still historically high.2
How Successful Agents Don't Start the Day
You've probably seen plenty of articles and podcasts where top agents share their secrets for record-breaking commissions and nonstop referrals. However, before you check these out, take a look at what you shouldn't do, especially during your first hour at work.
Highly successful agents generally don't:
- Start the day by going through every email. This often puts you into "reactive mode", which can make it difficult for you to be proactive.
- Scroll social media with no purpose. These sites can steal hours of your time.
- Try to catch up on non-essential tasks before doing anything proactive.
- Book back-to-back morning meetings unnecessarily. Instead, take the time to find an ideal time for all attendees.
- Skip planning and hope the day works itself out. It won't. Make big decisions while rushed or flustered. Instead, calm yourself by deep breathing, a ten-minute walk, or a coffee/tea break.
Will The Stagflation of the 1970s Reappear This Year?
Even though the news changes daily, there are concerns that the current conflict in the Middle East may affect the spring housing market. Earlier this week, gas prices rose as crude oil prices hit $100 a barrel.
Rising oil prices affect more than drivers; they also affect prices throughout the economy, from airline fares to groceries, as companies deal with higher transportation costs. These numbers have caused some concern among economists who think stagflation could reappear after a 53-year hiatus.
Stagflation is an economic condition caused by the combination of high unemployment and high inflation. Factors that may fuel stagflation include current rising energy prices and geopolitical tensions, similar to those that appeared in the mid-1970s. In addition, there are concerns that some of the supply chain issues of the pandemic era may return if the Middle East conflict continues.4
Help Your Clients Win Property Tax Appeals
According to the National Taxpayer Union Foundation (NTUF), 30% to 60% of American properties are over-assessed for property tax purposes each year. Most homeowners aren't aware of this data. However, since you're a trained real estate professional, you can probably tell if a property is over-assessed simply by checking the address and its assessed value per square foot.
You can prospect these homeowners easily, simply by informing them that their homes' property tax assessment could use a second look. Next, you can offer to file an assessment appeal on their behalf in exchange for a fee. The appeal process varies, but it typically involves filing an application online and submitting comps to the county assessor's office that support the lower fair market value and your appeal.
A second approach is to reach out to your closed buyers. This can help generate referrals, even if their property taxes don't need to be appealed. For example, you can send them a letter that tells them that you've already reviewed their assessment and confirmed that it's fair, and that you will check their assessment next year to ensure their home hasn't been over-assessed.5
Sources: 1cnbc.com, 2redfin.com, 3buildingbetteragents.com, 4realtor.com, 5floridarealtors.org
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