Inventory Surges While Sales Slow and Prices Hold Steady
Housing supply continued to expand across the NWMLS service area in April, with active listings rising 28.4% year over year and increasing more than 23% from March as the spring market gained momentum. While inventory expanded, market activity remained mixed: closed sales declined 3.7% year over year, even as showings and key box accesses increased from both March and April 2025. The median sales price remained unchanged from a year ago at $650,000, reflecting a market with more choices for buyers but continued affordability constraints.
Mortgage rates remained elevated in April, with average rates slightly higher than in March, and the Federal Reserve held short-term rates steady, citing ongoing inflation pressures, including rising energy costs. Ongoing global uncertainty, including the war in Iran, continued to put upward pressure on interest rates and weigh on housing demand.
Steven Bourassa, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington, said, “We are continuing to see relatively weak demand in the NWMLS market area (as elsewhere in the U.S.), with listings substantially higher than a year earlier, transactions down almost 4%, and median prices unchanged. At the moment, it is difficult to see any improvement on the horizon with the Iran war stuck in a stalemate.”
Source: NWMLS
World Cup Rental Guide: How to Earn $6,000 Per Night and Secure Your Home
It’s finally almost go time for the World Cup, and for some homeowners that means it’s time to vacate the premises. Not because they are avoiding the crowds, but because they’re welcoming FIFA fans into their homes.
With some Airbnbs topping $6,000 per night in hot host areas like New York, New Jersey and Miami, according to The Financial Post, people looking to make extra money during matches are choosing to skip the games and rent out their homes instead.
Nationally, June reservations are pacing 15.2% above last year, and July is up 17.1%, supported by peak-season travel and the upcoming World Cup, according to data analytics company AirDNA’s March 2026 report.
Some U.S. host cities have seen bookings for June and July surge up to 58%, an early indicator of the massive travel demand spurred by the international soccer tournament.
And it’s not a bad idea for those who are able to make it happen. In fact, Airbnb notes that cashing in during big events like the FIFA World Cup can offer local hosts a significant source of extra income to offset the rising costs of living.
But along with the rewards, come risks. As such, anyone renting out their living space must take precautions to protect their assets.
“Renting out your home for a major event like the World Cup is a great opportunity but it does require some thoughtful preparation before handing over the keys,” says Jimmy Lin, vice president of product management at ADT. “It’s best to think beyond traditional ‘lock and key’ security and move toward a layered, smart home security system.”
(Source: Realtor.com)
https://www.realtor.com/advice/rent/world-cup-airbnb-rentals-tips-security-income/
Breakouts! – Residential SOLD Average
Surprising Home Price Growth
Oil prices, inflation fears, and mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated until the US/Iran conflict ends. But even today, mortgage rates are nearly a half a percentage point lower than they were at the same time last year, and many markets are significantly more buyer-friendly.
Data provider Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) reported that national home prices had risen 0.4% month-over-month in March. That is surprising for a number of reasons. First, because (on its own numbers) prices had been negative-to-flat for the past 8 months. Second, because the US/Iran war started on February 27, leading to a jump in mortgage rates in March.
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425-766-5408
ginabrown@C2financial.com
www.loansbygina.com
