Realtor.com Pro

The housing market is shifting in buyers' favor. Active inventory is up 8.9% compared to last year, home prices have fallen 2.4%, the biggest weekly drop on record since Realtor.com started tracking in 2018, and homes are taking six days longer to sell.

It's the third straight week of price declines, and Realtor.com economists say the slowdown "goes beyond normal seasonality." Mortgage rates are also lower than they were a year ago, with the average 30-year fixed rate at 6.11% for the week ending Feb. 5, according to Freddie Mac.

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The 2026 spring housing market is showing more momentum than any spring since 2022, with new listings up 1.1% year over year and contract signings up 2.9%, according to a new Realtor.com analysis.

Economists say realistic pricing from the start, rather than repeated price cuts, is emerging as a key driver of buyer activity in markets like Austin, Phoenix, and Jacksonville.

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If you're planning to sell your home this summer, flowering annuals are one of the quickest and most affordable ways to improve curb appeal.

Unlike perennials, which can take two to three years to fully bloom, annuals provide color and texture the same season you plant them. Horticulturist Justin Hancock of Costa Farms recommends petunias for sunny spots, impatiens for shade, and zinnias for low-maintenance color that attracts pollinators. Snapdragons add vertical interest and fragrance, heliotropes offer a vanilla-like scent near entryways, and vincas thrive in heat with blooms that last all season.

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Agents, your clients are asking the right questions before hiring a listing agent. Make sure you have great answers ready. From pricing strategy to marketing plans to communication style, here's exactly what buyers and sellers should be asking, and what separates a good agent from a great one.

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