Welcome to our October 2025 real estate update! In this edition, we're diving into the latest trends and news about the housing market, with insights on price fluctuations, inventory changes, and regional updates. Whether you're buying, selling, or just staying informed, we've got the details you need to navigate the evolving market and make smart decisions.

October Financial Market News

• Fed Chair Jerome Powell made some new comments on the Fed's balance sheet. Powell said there were signs of liquidity and tightening, and that the Fed may stop reducing their balance sheet in the coming months. The next Fed meeting is at the end of October.
  
  
• Amazon plans to add 250,000 workers across U.S. fulfillment and transportation networks (its third straight year doing so) as it prepares for the holiday season and ongoing e-commerce growth.

• Analysts expect holiday retail sales to grow ~4.4% year-over-year in 2025, fueled by discounts, promotions, and continued online expansion.

• Global watchdogs like the Financial Stability Board are tightening oversight of how banks and companies use artificial intelligence, worried that relying too much on a few tech providers or flawed data could create bigger financial risks.
  
  
• In September, planned job cuts dropped 37% month-over-month—marking one of the lowest levels in recent years.
  • However, the government shutdown has now paused the release of jobs data, leaving markets, policymakers, and businesses “flying blind” on hiring trends.
    
    

October National Housing Market News

• The ROAD to Housing Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tim Scott, passed 77–20 amid the shutdown. The bill targets housing affordability by boosting supply, cutting red tape, and expanding access to mortgages — earning praise from NAR and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
  
  
• Homeowners now hold $34.5 trillion in equity even as U.S. debt hits record highs. With HELOC rates at a two-year low, experts say tapping home equity could help pay down costly debt like credit cards averaging over 20%.
  
  
• Analysts say buyers now have more negotiating power, with roughly 500,000 more sellers than buyers, leading to price discounts and closing-cost concessions.
  
  
• The U.S. housing market continues to cool unevenly — the South and West are transitioning toward buyer-friendly conditions with more listings and price cuts, while the Northeast and Midwest remain tight on supply and resilient on price.
  
  
• Hundreds of Starbucks stores are closing across the U.S., which experts say could make some neighborhoods feel less desirable and slightly impact nearby property values.
  
  
• Nearly 1 in 5 listings (19.9%) had a price cut in September, with reductions most common among homes priced between $350,000–$500,000, signaling that mid-range sellers are feeling the most pressure.
  
  
• A new report finds single-family homes still build equity faster thanks to lifestyle demand and limited land, but multifamily properties are gaining traction for their steady rental income and long-term cash flow potential.
  
  
• President Trump called on major homebuilders to boost construction and build more homes to help lower housing costs across the country.
  
  
• TikTok’s viral “Great Lock-In” trend is inspiring young buyers to save aggressively through the end of 2025 and get financially ready to buy a home in 2026.
  
  
• Across the U.S., aging shopping malls are being transformed into housing, helping boost supply and ease pressure on the nation’s housing shortage.
  
  

October 2025 National Housing Trends

• Active listings rose 17% year-over-year in September, marking the 23rd straight month of growth, but inventory gains are slowing as the market heads into fall.
  
  
• Designers say skip the scarecrows — this fall it’s all about earthy tones like terracotta and olive, layered textures, and décor that feels cozy but not kitschy.
  
  
• Buyers are most drawn to practical green features like efficient windows, doors, and lower utility bills, while solar panels remain divisive and often complicate sales.
  
  
• Barndominiums (steel-framed, barn-style homes) are gaining popularity as a faster, more affordable alternative to traditional houses, offering customizable layouts and lower construction costs for buyers seeking space and savings.
  
  
• After shrinking during the pandemic, commute times are nearly back to pre-2020 levels as hybrid work and high housing costs push buyers farther from city job centers in search of affordability.
  
  
• 1 in 3 homes sold in the first half of 2025 were purchased in all cash, only a slight dip (-0.6%) from last year.
  
  
• WalletHub’s 2025 report ranks Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine among the top 10 safest states in the U.S., leading the list for personal, financial, and community safety.
  
  
• Green is having its moment, as paint brands say deep, earthy shades like Dunn-Edwards’ Midnight Garden will define 2026 homes, replacing the once-beloved “Millennial Gray”.
  
  
• A new survey finds 93% of Americans say housing costs are too high, with most blaming investors (48%), rising building costs (46%), and high rents (43%)—though economists point to a deeper issue: a nationwide housing shortage of nearly 4 million homes.
  
  
  

October Regional Housing Market News

Curious about how the housing market is shifting in your area? Here’s a closer look at the latest trends across different regions of the U.S. From price changes to inventory updates, we’ve got the insights you need to stay ahead in your local market.

October 2025 Northeast Region Housing News:

• Only 14% of listings in the Northeast saw price cuts, far fewer than other regions — sellers in markets like Hartford, Providence, and New York City remain firm on pricing.
  
  
• Local remodelers say Boston homeowners are getting solid returns on upgrades, with bathroom remodels recouping about 65% of costs and vinyl window replacements nearly 70%.
  
  
• More than half of Richmond home buyers are now searching outside the metro area, up from 41% in 2019 — with Virginia Beach, D.C./NoVa, and Charlottesville among the top destinations, according to Realtor.com.
  
  
• A major expansion is coming to Baltimore County’s Broadmead senior living community, which plans to turn a former 61-acre corporate park in Sparks into 80 new independent living residences — its first-ever expansion in 46 years.
  
  
• Among major metros in September, Boston saw listings jump 21.5% with a median price of $812,000; Hartford and Providence remained among the few U.S. cities still posting price gains (up 4–5% year-over-year), while New York City listings edged up 3% with a $759,000 median price and minimal price reductions.
  
  
• Springfield, MA, remains America’s hottest market for the fifth straight month in September, with homes attracting 3x more views than the national average and selling nearly a month faster at a $370,000 median price.

October 2025 Midwest Region Housing News: 

• In Omaha’s Heartwood Preserve, two new neighborhoods are rising around an 80-acre greenway that doubles as art and flood protection. Future homeowners will walk past sculpted basins, limestone walls, and prairie grass instead of the typical drainage ditches.
  
  
• A new state tax incentive is already fueling over 3,000 new and rehabbed homes across Michigan as developers tap into housing tax increment financing to bring long-needed projects to life.
  
  
• As new home starts slow, Midwest buyers are gravitating toward homes needing work; listings labeled “fixer-upper” got 52% more views than other homes.
  
  
• Wisconsin dominated Realtor.com’s September 2025 Hottest Housing Markets list, with seven of the top 20 cities — including Kenosha (#3), Appleton and Wausau (tied #5), Racine (#7), Janesville (#9), Green Bay (#10), and Milwaukee (#19).
  
  
• According to a 2025 study from The Senior Citizens League, nearly 22 million seniors rely solely on Social Security—but Indiana stands out as one of the few states where retirees can break even thanks to low housing costs.

October 2025 Texas Region Housing News: 

• Sales have started at Austin Point, a 4,700-acre master-planned community in Fort Bend County, TX, that will bring 10,000 homes and 4,000 multifamily units over the next two decades, making it one of the largest developments in the Houston area.
  
  
• Austin (+46.9%), San Antonio (+49.6%), and Houston (+25.1%) all have significantly more inventory than before the pandemic, signaling a major supply recovery.
  
  
• Across Texas, homes are sitting longer, and 44% of listings have price cuts, with a median list price of $377,558 as sellers adjust to slower fall market conditions.
  
  
• A new Texas Realtors poll found that two-thirds of buyers felt they had enough homes to choose from, though 39% still faced multiple-offer competition. Nearly 42% of buyers who stopped searching said homes were too expensive.
  
  

October 2025 Southeast Region Housing News: 

• Birmingham, AL will start foreclosing on neglected, lien-heavy properties to crack down on blight and long-time problem landlords.
  
  
• Seminole County, FL raised property taxes for the first time in 16 years, piling higher costs on homeowners even as the state considers scrapping property taxes entirely.
  
  
• Stanley Martin Homes is launching Darlington in Loganville, GA, a Gwinnett County community with 150 townhouses (from the upper $300Ks) and 15 single-family homes (from the low $400Ks), tapping into the area’s rapid growth and affordability near Atlanta job centers.
  
  
• Miami tops the nation in cash sales, with 43% of home purchases paid in cash and more than 70% of luxury condos over $1M closing without financing.
  
  

October 2025 Southwest Region Housing News: 

• Price cuts remain common across the Southwest, with 21.1% of listings seeing reductions in September — among the highest rates nationwide.
  
  
• As Sundance Film Festival prepares to move from Park City, UT, to Boulder, CO, in 2027, local agents expect the event to boost Boulder’s luxury housing and rental markets while Park City shifts focus back to tourism and recreation.
  
  
• Homes in Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona are spending 9–13 more days on the market compared to last year.
  
  
• After years of falling behind, Phoenix has almost built enough homes to match its fast-growing population. Housing supply jumped 16% since 2014, just ahead of population growth at 15%, mostly thanks to new apartments.
  
  

October 2025 Pacific Northwest Housing News:

• Washington state homeowners pay some of the lowest HOA and condo fees in the U.S., with a median of $82 per month compared to the national average of $135, according to new Census data.
  
  
• A nearly 1 million-acre Wyoming ranch is listed for $80 million, offering buyers a rare mix of ranchland and wildlife conservation, including habitat protection for the greater sage-grouse.
  
  
• In Bend, OR the new Parkside Place development offers homes starting at $474,990 (about 35% below the city’s median price) to make homeownership more accessible for middle-income buyers like teachers and nurses.
  
  
• The housing market remains strong in Coeur d’Alene, ID with a median home price of $547,250, up 3% year over year. Home sales rose 4%, as more buyers move forward despite higher rates.
  
  

October 2025 California Housing News:

• In California, homes are sitting 8–12 days longer, and price cuts are becoming more common, especially in Riverside (17%) and Sacramento (22%).
  
  
• The San Francisco housing market stays one of the most competitive in the U.S., with median home prices near $1.2M, just 1.4 months of inventory, and homes selling fast as demand continues to outpace supply.
  
  
• California now caps HOA fines at $100 per violation, giving homeowners relief but leaving boards worried about weaker rule enforcement.
  
  
• Downtown Los Angeles just approved a $2 billion project to turn an old warehouse in Skid Row into new apartments, shops, and community spaces.
  
  
• A new law signed could finally open the door for more affordable homes along California’s prized coastline — allowing certain projects to skip coastal permits while still protecting the environment.
  
  

Be sure to check back next month for our updated insights and trends to keep you informed on the latest developments. In the meantime, if you’re thinking about buying, selling, or refinancing, our Home Loan Specialists are always ready to help you make the right move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check our FAQs for responses to our most popular questions about our monthly housing updates.

How often does Churchill Mortgage send out market updates?

We publish real estate updates at the start of every month to help you stay informed on housing trends, mortgage rates, and economic news that could impact your next move.

What is the ROAD to Housing Act and why does it matter to home buyers?

Passed by the Senate in October 2025, the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act aims to make homes more affordable by cutting red tape, boosting construction, and expanding access to mortgage credit — which could help increase housing supply and improve affordability in 2026.

How are mortgage and home equity rates changing right now?

Home equity and HELOC rates have dropped to two-year lows, and the Federal Reserve has hinted at additional rate cuts later in 2025 — giving homeowners and buyers new opportunities to refinance, tap equity, or enter the market with lower borrowing costs.

 

What does the October 2025 housing market look like for buyers?

Buyers have more leverage this fall, with roughly 500,000 more sellers than buyers nationwide and nearly 1 in 5 homes seeing price cuts. Conditions are shifting toward a more balanced market, especially in the South and West. Click here to get connected to a Home Loan Specialist!

How do I sign up to receive Churchill Mortgage’s market updates?

Just visit churchillmortgage.com/articles and look for the “Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter” section on the right-hand side near the bottom of the page.

Are Churchill’s market updates national or regional?

Both! Our updates cover national housing trends and financial news, with breakdowns of key developments across major U.S. regions so you can see how the market is shifting in your area.

Can I talk to someone about what this means for my local market?

Absolutely! You can connect with a local Churchill Home Loan Specialist to talk through your goals and how market trends may impact your options.

Just click here to find an expert near you!

How can Churchill Mortgage’s Rate Watch program help buyers?

Churchill Mortgage’s Rate Watch program helps buyers by monitoring mortgage rates and notifying them when rates drop to their desired level. This gives buyers the opportunity to lock in lower rates, potentially saving thousands over the life of their loan. It's an excellent tool for buyers looking to maximize savings in a fluctuating market.

Why should I read Churchill’s real estate updates each month?

The housing market is always changing, and even small shifts in mortgage rates, inventory, or the broader economy can have a big impact on your buying power and timing.

Churchill’s monthly updates break down what’s happening nationally and regionally so you can stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're actively planning a move or just keeping an eye on the market, staying informed helps you make smarter decisions—like when to lock in a rate, start a refinance, or begin your home search. We sort through the data, so you don’t have to.

What new housing trends should homeowners and buyers watch?

From green paint tones and barndominiums to repurposed shopping malls and hybrid-work suburbs, 2025’s housing market blends affordability, sustainability, and lifestyle design. Buyers are prioritizing value, comfort, and long-term investment potential.