Thank you to everyone who joined us at our homebuyer seminar at M&T Bank this week — it was a pleasure connecting with so many future homeowners.

And a special thank you to my friend, whom I first met 16 years ago while he was searching for his first home to buy. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of helping him twice — and this week, the honor of being invited by him to speak. I’m grateful for the full-circle moment! Thank you, Alex. ✌️


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Tariffs, Rates, and What It Means for Spring Buyers

Tariffs, Rates, and What it Means for Spring Buyers

President Donald Trump's recent "Liberation Day" tariffs are expected to impact the U.S. housing market by increasing construction costs and influencing mortgage rates. Following the announcement, mortgage rates fell sharply, with the average 30-year fixed rate dropping 12 basis points to 6.63%—the lowest since October. This decline reflects a market shift as investors moved from equities into U.S. Treasury bonds, which typically guide mortgage rates. At the same time, the tariffs are projected to raise new housing costs, with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimating a $9,200 increase per new single-family home due to higher prices on imported materials like lumber,…

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We're all closely watching how markets are reacting to the Trump administration’s newly imposed tariffs — but first, a few thoughts on March’s real estate activity.

Nationally, the market is moving — but prices aren’t surging.

For the first time this year, weekly home sales topped 2024 levels. Inventory is up 30% year over year. And the median home price? Just 1% higher than this time last year.*  

Locally, inventory levels remain nearly identical to last year.

Last month, 883 new listings came on the market in Westchester County — a slight uptick from the 878 in March 2024. That represents a modest 3.6% increase. But the median home price is up 9.47%.**

More homes will hit the market as the season…

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The Longer a House Sits, The Less It Sells For

The Longer a House Sits, The Less It Sells For
Overpricing your house could cost you more than you think.

Homes that sit on the market tend to sell for less — and it usually comes down to pricing. When a property is listed at or just below market value, it often sells quickly, sometimes with multiple offers. But overprice it, and things stall. Interest fades, and sellers end up cutting the price or accepting less. Today’s buyers are savvy. With market data at their fingertips, they know when a price is off — and many won’t bother engaging with a seller who seems unrealistic.

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Rocket agrees to acquire Mr. Cooper weeks after Redfin deal

Rocket agrees to acquire Mr. Cooper weeks after Redfin deal

Rocket Companies just announced a $9.4 billion acquisition of Mr. Cooper, a major mortgage servicer, shortly after striking a $1.75 billion deal to acquire Redfin. These moves mark a bold effort by Rocket to vertically integrate the entire residential real estate process, from home search to mortgage origination and servicing. With this consolidation, Rocket will control a significant portion of U.S. mortgage servicing and is positioning itself to compete more directly with Zillow and CoStar.

Ralph’s Take

With its latest acquisitions, Rocket isn’t just expanding — it’s reimagining the real estate experience. By combining Redfin’s search platform, Rocket…

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Steam Showers, Sub-Zeros & Pinot Noir

We talk a lot about square footage, layout, and location. But sometimes, it’s the little luxuries — the ones buyers feel more than they see — that quietly seal the deal (and sweeten your sale price). Zillow recently crunched the data and found listings that mentioned certain lifestyle upgrades sold for significantly more than expected. Here are five features that made the biggest impact — and what it might take to bring them into your own home.

Ralph’s Take

I’ve walked through thousands of homes in Westchester — and one thing is consistent: homeowners always ask me what improvements will add the most value. Here’s the honest answer — it depends. The value of an upgrade is tied tightly…

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The Local Impact of a Property Sale

Buying or selling a home has a broader impact beyond personal change — it significantly supports the local economy. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), each home sale generates substantial economic activity, with existing home sales contributing over $60,000 and new home purchases adding over $125,000 to the local economy.

Ralph’s Take

Buying or selling a home is more than a personal milestone — it’s a major boost to the local economy. Each move injects tens of thousands of dollars into the community, driving demand in construction, finance, retail, and more. Local governments gain through taxes and fees, and even small businesses, like your neighborhood pizza shop,…

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Zillow Downgrades 2025 Home Price Forecast

Zillow has revised its U.S. home price forecast via ResiClub, now predicting just a 0.8% increase from February 2025 to February 2026, down from earlier projections of 1.1% and 2.9%. This reflects rising inventory levels nationally and ongoing affordability issues, which are dampening buyer demand. Zillow expects only 4.1 million existing home sales in 2025, significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

  • 2025 existing home sales projected at 4.1M, down from 5.3M in 2019.

  • Temporary spring sales boost expected, followed by a seasonal dip.

  • Single-family rents forecasted to rise 3.6%; multifamily rents up 2.5%.

  • Rents continue climbing, 3.6% for single-family homes,…

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The Top Price Ranges Driving Westchester’s Real Estate Market

The chart above provides a breakdown of property showings by price range for homes listed under $2 million in Westchester County, from January 1st to March 15th. It highlights which price segments that are attracting the most buyer interest, showing trends in demand based on the number of showings per listing. Key findings:

Most Active Price Ranges:

  1. $600K – $699K: The lead in every category, representing 12.19% of all showings.

  2. $700K – $799K: Placed second in all categories except showings per listing (10th)

  3. $1.6M – $1.69M: Second in showings per listing (21.24), despite overall low volume.

Ralph’s Take

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More Sellers Are Stepping Into The Market 

We're starting to see more sellers step into the market — no surprise there.

What is surprising? Just how quickly those inventory gains are disappearing. Take a look at what’s been happening over the past two weeks with Westchester single-family homes:

  • Last week: 227 new listings | 203 under contract

  • This week: 222 new listings | 227 under contract

The encouraging news? More inventory will be coming, but the question remains: Can it keep pace with buyer demand, even briefly?

I’ll be watching the numbers closely and will keep you posted. Let me know if you would like to chat about timing or a strategy for your next move.

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