
If you’ve been putting off buying a home because you thought getting approved would be too hard, know this: qualifying for a mortgage is starting to get a bit more achievable, but lending standards are still strong.
Our markets have taken a downturn, and I expect downward pressure to persist at least through the 4th quarter. This, however, presents a great opportunity for homebuyers who have been waiting for more favorable terms and better pricing. As the economy slows, interest rates should ease, providing further benefits for homebuyers. Now is the time to act or prepare—waiting for the perfect moment to time the market could mean missing out. Once the market begins to turn around, the window of opportunity will close quickly.
To remain competitive, sellers must be prepared to offer concessions and stay flexible on price, especially if the property isn’t show-ready or in a prime location. The days of listing high and expecting multiple offers are behind us, at least for now.
“Since the housing market peaked in June of 2022, many of you may not be fully aware of where the key statistics stand today.”
These are the housing stats for May of 2022, which was the top in the market:
Monthly Average Sales Price per Sq. Ft. May 2022: $303.55
Monthly Median Sales Price- May 2022: $475,000
And these are housing stats for April of 2025: Today
Monthly Average Sales Price per Sq. Ft. May 2025: $299.30
Monthly Median Sales Price May 2025: $445,000
Price Per Sq Ft is down -1.4% in 3 years.
Median Sales Price is down -6.3% in 3 years.
Because the luxury market has remained strong, with significantly higher price points, price-per-square-foot figures can be misleading. The monthly median sales price offers a more accurate and balanced view of the overall housing market.
“Feel free to reach out anytime—it’s more important than ever to work with an experienced agent who can help you confidently navigate today’s challenging market.” Shawn
Here is the……
Market Summary for the Beginning of May
Here are the basics – the ARMLS numbers for May 1, 2025 compared with May 1, 2024 for all areas & types:
Active Listings: 26,190 versus 17,129 last year – up 53% – and up 4.8% from 24,990 last month.
Under Contract Listings: 9,047 versus 9,336 last year – down 3.1% – and down 0.7% from 9,113 last month.
Monthly Sales: 7,303 versus 7,045 last year – up 3.7% – and up 4.89% from 6,967 last month.
Monthly Average Sales Price per Sq. Ft.: $299.30 versus $306.53 last year – down 2.4% – and down 3.7% from $310.76 last month.
Monthly Median Sales Price: $445,000 versus $450,000 last year – down 1.1% – and down 3.2% from $459,500 last month.
There were 22 working days in both April 2025 and April 2024, so we do not need to make any calendar-based adjustments.
Transaction volumes improved, with closings up 3.7% compared with April 2024. However dollar volume declined, because closed pricing dropped hard between March and April. There are three factors behind this….
Higher volumes at the lower end of the market.
The top end of the market has slowed down.
A general downward trend in prices due to buyers taking increased control of the market.
Supply continued to climb throughout April but the growth rate is slowing down as we enter May. Supply is now a little higher than normal while demand is far below normal. This is not a healthy combination and market theory postulates that prices will fall while the condition persists.
Although sales volume improved, the number of listings under contract has declined slightly from the beginning of April. In theory, demand should increase as prices decline, but that depends on buyers having confidence that home prices won’t get more attractive if they wait a little bit longer.
Temperatures will soon be entering their peak period in Central Arizona and house hunting in the open air will become less comfortable. In almost every year that means the market slows down and prices weaken. The current closing price dip of over 3% during a single month is unlikely to be reversed in the next 4 or 5 months. It is more likely that the downtrend continues, at least until we enter the fourth quarter.
The most positive trend right now is the increase in transaction volumes, and we hope this will continue for some time. Source Cromford Report
Sellers are currently negotiating and, on average, are offering concessions. It’s essential to market your home effectively by ensuring it is move-in ready and presents well. This is not the time to overprice your home, as buyers have many more options available to them.
I can assist you in selling your home, using our proven marketing strategy and resources to prepare your home for the market and ensure it sells for top dollar.
Call me to discuss your situation if you’re considering selling or buying.
Here are the basics – the ARMLS numbers for April 1, 2025 compared with April 1, 2024 for all areas & types:
There were 21 working days in both March 2025 and March 2024, so we do not need to make any calendar-based adjustments.
There is good news and bad news for both sellers and buyers.
The active listing counts continue to rise, which is very unusual between March and April, and therefore bad news for sellers, but the rate of increase has at least slowed down. Interest rates have eased to around 6.63% for the 30 year fixed, and demand shows clear signs of improving during March. Pending listings are higher than last year and listings under contract are up over 6%. The sales count is also stronger (up 2.6% from March 2024). This is encouraging for sellers. The problem remains that even with this higher transaction and contract level, supply is still rising. There are simply more sellers than we expected, with year-to-date new listings almost 20% higher than this time last year.
Closed pricing is still looking surprisingly strong but once again this is heavily skewed by high-end deals that were agreed before pandemonium hit the stock market. The luxury market is highly dependent on how wealthy people feel about their investments, and they have gone from ebullient in early January to despondent in early April. This change is not reflected in closings, but it appears to be making itself felt in active list pricing and under contract counts for the top end of the market.
With the Cromford® Market Index now below 80, the downward pressure on prices is building just as inflation starts to tick up again. The cost of building a home is rising quickly because so many of the physical components are sourced from abroad, but new home selling prices will have to come down when supply exceeds demand to the extent we are now seeing. Despite new home closings in Greater Phoenix reaching the highest level for January and February since 2006, home builders are starting to cut their base prices – KB Home being the first major builder to report doing so. Other builders may be hoping that increasing concessions will work, but just one look at the stock charts for homebuilders is enough to paint the picture clearly. Lennar is currently down 32% over the past 12 months and DR Horton is down 22%. Even Toll Brothers, operating at a much higher median price point, is down 22% from a year ago.
Although there are more buyers about at the moment, they have a lot of choice and growing bargaining power, especially in the outlying and less expensive areas. With patience and care, they should be able to secure a good deal if the seller is realistic about market conditions. If the seller is unrealistic, there is no harm in walking away.
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Are you having a hard time finding the right home in your budget? Or maybe you already own a home but could use some extra income or a designated space for aging loved ones. Either way, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could be the smart solution you’ve been looking for in today’s market.
According to Fannie Mae, an ADU is a small, separate living space that’s on the same lot as a single-family home. It must include its own areas for living, sleeping, cooking, and bathrooms independent of the main house. And they can take shape in a few different ways. Fannie Mae adds, an ADU can be:
ADUs are growing in popularity as more people discover why they’re so practical. In fact, a recent survey shows that 24% of agents say an ADU, such as a mother-in-law house, is one of the most desired features buyers are looking for right now.
The growing appeal makes sense. With rising costs all around you, an ADU can help supplement your income and ease some of the strain on your wallet. Whether you buy a home that has one already or you add one on, it gives you the option to rent out that portion of your home to help pay your mortgage.
Here are some of the other top benefits of ADUs, according to Freddie Mac and the AARP:
It’s worth noting that since an ADU exists on a single-family lot as a secondary dwelling, it typically can’t be sold separately from the primary residence. And while that’s changing in some states, regulations vary by location. So, connect with a local real estate expert for the most up-to-date guidance.
In today’s market, buying a home with an ADU or adding one to your current house could be worth considering. Just be sure to talk with a real estate agent who can explain local codes and regulations for this type of housing and what’s available in your area.
What’s your motivation for exploring ADUs?