This week in real estate: cautious momentum, not a breakout
I’ve been watching the weekly data closely, especially as mortgage rates briefly dipped to their lowest levels in about three years.
According to Altos Research (Mike Simonsen), newly pending home sales jumped 11% compared to the same week last January. That’s real movement, but it’s also fragile.
A few important takeaways I’m focused on:
• Sales activity is running about 5% higher than last year, which is encouraging, but last year was heavily constrained by higher rates.
• Inventory is rising too (about 10% more new listings than a year ago), which is what a healthier market should look like.
• Buyers remain extremely price-sensitive. Over a third of listings have already had price reductions, and that won’t unwind overnight.
• Prices are the slowest piece to respond. National asking prices per square foot are still slightly below last year, even as deals pick up.
What this tells me:
The market is moving because motivated sellers and prepared buyers are finding each other, not because prices are suddenly surging.
With peak spring inventory coming online and rates wobbling again on macro news, this momentum needs to be watched week by week, not assumed.
Credit to Mike Simonsen / Altos Research for the data—always one of the clearest reads on what’s actually happening beneath the headlines.
If you’re buying or selling this year, strategy and timing matter more than optimism alone.
I'm Amanda Briggs, a luxury agent in Washington DC and my work sits at the intersection of timing, life transitions, and long-term decision-making, especially for families and relocations into the DC market.
I’m also deeply connected to trusted agents across the country, which matters when a move isn’t just local but part of a larger transition - coordinating a sale, a purchase, or a handoff between cities with continuity and care.
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Amanda Briggs | Washington, DC
Advising families, relocations, and next-chapter moves
