U.S. Housing Forecasts
From multiple reputable sources
Realtor.com (Sept 5 update): Late-summer “doldrums” persist: new listings growth has cooled to the slowest pace since April, and median list price is flat for the 4th straight week. Short-run outlook: muted activity into September. Realtor+1
Redfin (weekly & outlooks): With mortgage rates near an ~11-month low (~6.5%–6.6%), demand has improved only slightly: pending sales +1.6% YoY, inventory +11% YoY but rising more slowly. Redfin’s macro call: home prices roughly flat near-term; -1% YoY by Q4 2025, and affordability returns to “normal” by ~2030 if rates drift to ~5.5% and price growth stays tame. Redfin+4Redfin+4Redfin+4
Zillow (Aug 22 forecast — latest monthly): Home values expected to end 2025 down ~0.9%; existing home sales ~4.09M in 2025 (≈+0.6% YoY), with rent growth at multi-year lows. (Zillow hasn’t posted a September forecast yet; this is the most recent.) Zillow
Fannie Mae ESR (Aug Outlook — used for September planning): Total home sales 2025: ~4.74M (existing ~4.09M). ESR frames near-term sales as steady/sluggish with gradual improvement as rates ease. Fannie Mae+1
Freddie Mac / rates snapshot (early Sept): 30-yr fixed ~6.5% in early September; the recent slide is supportive, but activity remains constrained by prices. (Uses NAA’s weekly summary sourced to Freddie Mac.) NAAHQ
MBA (Mortgage Bankers Association): Mortgage applications down 1.2% WoW (week ending Aug 29) heading into September; MBA’s baseline has rates around mid-6s near-term (see roundup). MBANerdWallet
Kiplinger (September outlook): Price gains decelerating, inventory up from last year; single-family permits have softened, pointing to cautious builder activity into fall. Kiplinger
