Author: Jocelyn Minier

September’s housing market offered some important signals for buyers and sellers alike. Pending home sales dipped slightly compared to last year, ending an impressive eight-month run of gains—largely a response to higher borrowing costs that have tempered buyer enthusiasm. We’ve also seen contracts signed decline year-over-year, homes taking about 60 days to sell, and mortgage rates rising from around 6% in late Q1 to the high-6% range now.

For those searching for opportunities, buyers have started to see a bit more negotiating room: the median list price slipped to $424,500, about 20% of listings saw price cuts, and active inventory rose by roughly 4%. Fewer sellers removed their homes from the market compared to last year. Still, even with these shifts, national inventory remains about 11% below what’s typical before the pandemic—reminding us that the underlying housing shortage continues despite some current hesitation on the buyer side.

As always, I’m closely watching trends like seller delistings, pricing strategies, and how regional differences may narrow as everyone adapts to firmer borrowing costs. In a market that’s always evolving, my goal is to help you feel informed and confident at every step.

Welcome to this spacious 3,800-square-foot Colonial home, featuring a versatile split-level layout with 5–6 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms, offering plenty of room for an extended or growing family. The home features a possible mother-daughter setup with proper permits, providing flexibility for multigenerational living. Step through the large walk-in entry into a bright and welcoming interior filled with an abundance of natural light and impressive high ceilings. The first floor features 2 generous bedrooms, 2 large living rooms, 2 full bathrooms, a kitchenette, and a laundry room, along with an attached 3-car garage. The second floor offers a formal living room with a wood-burning fireplace and a possible private office, providing an elegant and flexible space for entertaining or working from home. The third floor showcases an additional dining room, a large eat-in kitchen, and 4 bedrooms, including a primary bedroom with a private full bathroom and its own deck. The home's flexible layout provides plenty of space to accommodate a variety of living arrangements. Additional highlights include hardwood floors, high ceilings, central air, an attic for extra storage, a covered porch, a back deck with a Jacuzzi, and a private driveway. Situated on a generous 19,602-square-foot lot, the property also features an updated roof (2019) and low taxes. This unique home offers exceptional space, versatility, and comfort, with plenty of room to make it your own.

Luxury home sales across the US are telling an intriguing story this season, with recent data from a listings platform revealing just how dramatically prices can vary in the top tier. The standout? A remarkable $130M sale leads the pack, with other major transactions at $47M, $40.2M, $40M, $21.2M, $19M, $18M, and $17.5M—underscoring the incredible range and depth of today’s luxury markets. What’s especially notable is that in four premier metro areas, even the fifth-highest sales surpassed $10M, reflecting a robust appetite for ultra-premium properties in those locations. One market, in particular, showed a tighter cluster of elite sales, with the top five ranging from $24M to $40M, suggesting a more consistent high-end benchmark. These insights come from publicly marketed listings and may not capture every private transaction, especially in nondisclosure markets where the numbers reflect listing prices rather than final sales.

As someone who values clear communication and a thorough, client-focused approach, I always keep a close eye on these trends to help clients navigate their next move with confidence—whether you’re eyeing a luxury estate or simply want to understand the forces shaping the market.