According to October 2025’s National Housing Report, the housing market showed a mix of trends. While some areas saw gains, others saw declines. However, overall market activity was in motion. You may be wondering what the latest housing numbers mean whether you’re buying, selling, or just waiting for the right time to do either. REMAX breaks it down for you in this month’s National Housing Report Recap.
A Market Finding Its Balance
There were some interesting shifts in the housing market in October. More homes sold compared to last year (up 3.2%) which could be seen as good news for anyone worried that the market slowed down.
That being said, homes did take a bit longer to find buyers in October. On average, homes took 50 days to sell. That’s compared to 43 days this exact time last year. The market was still moving in October, just at a slightly more relaxed pace than previous months.
More Choices for Buyers
One of the biggest changes was that there were simply more homes available to choose from on the market in October. Inventory was up nearly 16% when compared to last year. This means buyers had more options when they were house hunting. It looks like the housing selection has improved quite a bit since the crazy busy no-inspection days of the pandemic housing market.
Home Prices: Holding Steady
The typical home sold for $445,000 in October 2025 when averaging the 51 metro areas. This reflected continued confidence in real estate values. The median home sale price was about 2% higher than last year’s. While it was a pretty modest increase, it basically kept pace with normal market conditions. Month to month, prices nudged up just by 1%, which showed the market was relatively stable last month.
What Sellers Need to Know
If you’re in the market to sell your home soon, here are some key points from the report.
Pricing Matters Quite a Bit:
Overall, sellers received 98% of their asking price in October 2025. That’s down slightly from 99% last year. It might not sound like much, but it means buyers had a bit more negotiating power than they did before. This also means that overpricing your home could mean it sits on the market longer, so sellers be aware and work with your real estate agent.
Try to be Patient:
Since homes took an average of 50 days to sell (up from 43 days), a seller may have needed to wait a bit longer for the right buyer in October. The good news? Homes were still selling. It’s just not quite as lightning fast as it was in previous years though.
Well-priced Homes Still Move:
As Rich Gardner, a broker in Burlington, Vermont, points out: “Even with slightly longer days on market, well-priced homes are still moving.” The key is being realistic about your price from the start.
What Buyers Should Know
For buyers, this market offers some breathing room:
More Time to Think:
With homes staying on the market a bit longer, you don’t need to make any snap decisions. Buyers had more time to do their homework in October, get in-depth inspections, and make sure that the home was really right for them.
More Inventory Meant More Choices:
With about 2.9 months of inventory available in October 2025, (up from 2.6 months last year), buyers were not competing against as many others for the same limited properties.
There was Slightly More Room to Negotiate:
The slight dip in the close-to-list price ratio in October meant sellers were more willing to negotiate than they were a year ago. There was more give and take happening in October that there was in recent months.
What “Months of Inventory” Really Means
You might hear real estate agents talk about “months of inventory” currently sitting at 2.9 months. Here’s what that means in simple terms, if no new homes came on the market, it would take about 2.9 months to sell all the homes currently available at the current pace of sales.
In general terms, a balanced housing market has around 6 months of inventory. Normally, anything less would favor sellers and anything more would favor buyer. At 2.9 months, in October, that seemed to favor sellers however, it is more balanced than it was recently.
Regional Differences Matter
These are national averages, but your local market might look very different. For example:
- In Miami, homes took 82 days to sell with 6.3 months of inventory. That meant a much slower, possibly more buyer-friendly market
- In Hartford, Connecticut, homes were selling in just 23 days. That’s with only 1.2 months of inventory, which could be seen as still very competitive for buyers
- Burlington, Vermont saw sales jump 27.5% compared to last year and prices were up over 9%
The lesson? Always check what’s happening in your specific area before making decisions.
The Bottom Line: A Healthier Market
As REMAX CEO Erik Carlson put it, “October’s numbers show a market that’s adjusting but remains active.” And that adjustment could be seen as having created a healthier environment for everyone.
For buyers it seemed like there was less pressure to make quick and rushed decisions. For sellers, homes were still selling at good prices. You just need to be realistic about pricing and timing. The crazy stressful market of the past few years is easing into something a little more sustainable for all.
What This Means for Your Plans
If you’re buying: This is actually a decent time to be in the market. You have more choices, more time to make decisions, and a bit more negotiating power. Just don’t expect major price drops. Homes are still selling near asking price.
If you’re selling: Price your home competitively from the start. The days of listing high and getting multiple over-asking offers are less common in some markets. Work with a real estate agent to price your home right. Be prepared to negotiate a bit more than you might have a year ago.
If you’re waiting: The market didn’t dramatically favor either buyers or sellers in October. If you have a reason to move (whether buying or selling) waiting for the “perfect” market might mean missing out on opportunities that fit your life right now.
In October 2025, the housing market was finding its footing after years of a lot of unusual activity. It’s not a perfect market for everyone, but it’s more balanced than it once was. That meant better opportunities for researched buyers and easy wins for realistic sellers who made moves that work for them.
