What the Heck Is Going On With the Housing Market? Let’s Look at the Data

In this episode, I’m diving into the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey from May 2025—and trust me, it’s not just numbers and spreadsheets. We’re talking about what over 1,600 real estate agents across the country are really seeing in the trenches of today’s housing market. Are bidding wars making a comeback? Why are more buyers waiving contingencies again? And what does it say that 28% of homes are selling above list price—even with all the uncertainty? I’ll break down the biggest shifts from last month, compare what’s changed from a year ago, and give you a pulse-check on things like: First-time buyers and where they’re headed Why suburban and rural areas are still king (88% of activity!) How all-cash buyers are staying strong The surprising percentage of buyers making offers sight unseen Oh—and yes, we’ll talk about what it means when inspection and appraisal contingencies start disappearing again. Spoiler: it’s not just about confidence. Sometimes it's straight-up fear of missing out. If you want a clear, no-fluff breakdown of the market with a few jokes along the way, this episode’s for you. 📊 Key Talking Points for You to Cover (Feel free to riff naturally) 📉 Buyer traffic expectations are down (18%), but seller traffic is holding steady at 27%. 💰 28% of homes sold above list price—up from just 18% last month. 🏃‍♀️ 60% of homes sold in under a month. 💵 All-cash deals rose to 27% of all sales. 🔍 25% of buyers waived inspection contingencies (up from 20% in April), and 24% waived appraisal contingencies. 🧳 30% of buyers were first-time homebuyers (down from 34% in April). 🧭 88% of buyers looked outside city centers—suburbs, small towns, rural, and resort areas are hot. 🖥️ 6% of buyers bought based only on a virtual tour or open house. If you ever want to buy or sell a property anywhere in the world, our team would be honored to help get you to your next destination. Until next time, stay curious, stay hungry, and as always… stay ALL IN!   Amit Bhuta COMPASS ALL IN Miami Group Licensed Real Estate Agent (305) 439-3031 Mobile ALLinMiami.com