Market News September 5

Market Updates

More Ranchers' Heirs Ride Off into the Sunset


Home on the range is becoming popular again, especially with the mega-rich, as more family-owned ranches enter the market. While the heirs to a homestead may decide that managing thousands of acres doesn't appeal, others are tempted by their inheritances' value.

For example, a 7,600-acre California ranch that was a family home for over 115 years recently went on the market for $30.7 million. This was the result of the inheritors' failure to agree about the ranch's future, with some voting to seek a buyer who envisions a lifestyle similar to the Paramount+ series Yellowstone.

Ranch brokerage Live Water Properties currently has $700 million in listings on the books, including several that have come onto the market for the first time in generations. One 40,000-acre property in Wyoming, Antlers Ranch, is on the market for the first time since 1895. In addition to plenty of hunting and fishing options, many neighboring areas are public lands that can't be developed. This is an additional draw for those seeking lasting solitude.1

Vacation Property Sales Slow


Home sales are falling a bit faster in seasonal towns (where over 30% of properties aren't primary residences) than non-seasonal towns. Some potential second-home buyers have postponed purchases because of economic uncertainty. Others are dealing with new, short-term rental regulations put in place because of excessive numbers of Airbnb and VRBO properties in their neighborhoods.

Vacation home sales are down 3% year-over-year in July, while properties in non-seasonal towns have seen a smaller, 1% decline.

Florida is feeling more pain than many other states. Of the 288 seasonal towns included in this analysis, 104 of them are located in Florida. Pending home sales are falling faster in Miami and Fort Lauderdale—both seasonal towns—than any other major U.S. metro area.

A Miami agent noted that Florida's condo owners are some of the hardest hit. "The local condo market is brutal. We have so many people selling condos that they were using as second homes, whether it's a part-time home for their family or a short-term rental, or both."2

An AI-Powered Credit Building App


We've both encountered prospects who couldn't proceed because of credit challenges or lack of a traditional credit history. While credit counseling can be helpful, some would-be buyers may prefer another approach to improve their financial outlook.

One possible solution is Kikoff, an AI-powered credit-building and financial literacy app. Monthly subscribers choose from several programs beginning at $5.

Beginners are advised to check for credit errors using Kikoff's AI Credit Disputes tool. A 2024 report found that 44% of people who review their credit find at least one error. Correcting these often improves users' scores.

CEO Cynthia Chen describes Kikoff as a solution for people who find money problems intimidating. "Mistakes on a credit report can have a real impact on someone's life, but many people don't know where to start or feel overwhelmed by the process. By using AI to simplify the process and giving users a clear path forward, we're helping them take back control and make real progress."3

Tell a Compelling Story with These Business Bio Tips


If you haven't freshened up your business bio in the last 12 months, it's an ideal time to consider it. In addition to a new headshot, you can probably improve it with one or more of these strategies.

  • No matter how successful you are, it's equally important to be approachable. Add personal information such as hobbies, community involvement, and any schools and/or nonprofits you support.
  • If you're still new to real estate, don't despair. Instead, focus on your involvement with your town or community, local expertise, and family life.
  • If you specialize in a property type, such as vacation homes or condo units, you'll want to prioritize this. Include any designations you've earned, such as Accredited
  • Buyer's Representative (ABR) or Luxury Homes Certification (LHC).
  • Check out your online reviews. If several clients describe a particular talent, such as negotiating with sellers, you may want to add this.
  • No matter what you add to your bio, be sure to describe your skills in everyday language instead of business-speak.4

Sellers Outnumber Buyers by Widest Margin in 12 Years

While the last two years have been stressful for many would-be home sellers, the numbers of homeowners pulling their properties off the market is falling. Even though around 14,000 sellers left the market over the past two months, there are still 1.95 million owners keen to sell. In addition, builders are also struggling to close sales, increasing the trend to a market that's increasingly in the buyers' favor.

As of July 2025, a paltry 1.43 million buyers were looking for homes. Aside from the first months of the COVID pandemic, it's the lowest number of buyers since the start of Redfin's record-keeping 12 years ago. Currently, there are 36.3% more sellers in the market than buyers—518,801 more, to be exact.

Overall, 35 of the 50 most populous metros are buyer's markets, with Florida in first place and others within the Sun Belt and West Coast. Balanced and seller's markets are most frequently found in the Midwest and East Coast regions.5

Sources: 1cnbc.com, 2redfin.com, 3finance.yahoo.com, 4theclose.com, 5nationalmortgageprofessional.com