Westchester County NY Real Estate Blog - Sales

NAR’s Forecast: Home Sales Headed for a 14% Increase

NAR’s Forecast: Home Sales Headed for a 14% Increase

The latest forecast from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) predicts existing home sales in the U.S. will increase by about 14% in 2026, driven by improving economic fundamentals and a slight easing of mortgage rates. Home prices are expected to continue rising nationally around 4% next year, after an estimated 3% rise by the end of this year. Additional predictions:

• 14% increase in existing home sales.

• 5% increase in new home sales.

• Mortgage rates to drop gradually to 6%.

Ralph’s Take

I’ll be putting together a full list of forecasts as we get closer to the end of the year, but here’s my early read:…

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Inside Westchester County's Bidding Wars

Inside Westchester’s Bidding Wars

The Westchester County housing market continues to see a high volume of homes selling above their asking price. My analysis of single-family home sales by school district reveals that 56.2% of closed sales last year sold above list price. Of the 39 school districts I reviewed, 30 had a majority of sales close above asking, while only 9 districts fell below the 50% mark. Every school district, with the exception of Bronxville (99.3%) and Tuckahoe (96.8%), had an average sale-to-list price ratio above 100%.

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The Local Impact of a Property Sale

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 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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MLS vs Off-MLS: The Truth About Selling Prices

MLS vs Off-MLS: The Truth About Selling Prices

Multiple Listing Service (MLS): A database used by real estate professionals to share information about properties for sale. It allows brokers and agents to see up-to-date listings, including details like price, location, and property features.

Home sellers who choose not to list their properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), collectively lost more than $1 billion in potential profits over the past two years, according to a Zillow report. The study indicates that properties sold off-MLS typically fetched a median loss of 1.5% nationwide, when compared to those listed on the MLS. The trend is particularly more pronounced in New York, where sellers saw a median loss of 3.7%.

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Listings Are Up Nationally. Is Westchester Keeping Pace?

Listings Are Up Nationally. Is Westchester Keeping Pace?

I launched this newsletter to bridge the gap between national headlines and local market trends. The saying “real estate is local” will always hold true. Nationally, the number of homes for sale increased by 24.6% in January compared to last year, marking the 15th consecutive month of growth, according to Realtor.com. While that’s encouraging news, the story is a little different here in Westchester County:

Westchester: Homes for Sale (YoY):

• Single-Family: ↓ -20.4% (709 in ‘24 → 565 in ‘25)

• Condominiums: + 4.7% (203 in ‘24 → 213 in ‘25)

• Cooperatives: ↓ -6.8% (400 in ‘24 → 373 in ‘25)

The report also noted that newly…

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Why wait for spring? Here’s why buying now has its perks

Visual of the Week

Why wait for spring? Here’s why buying now has its perks.

Many buyers think spring is the best time to move, but here’s the truth: winter can offer some big advantages. With fewer buyers in the market at this time of year, home prices tend to be at their lowest point just before the spring competition heats things up. Why pay more later? Buying a home this winter could work in your favor. Let’s connect

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Home Sales End Tough Year with December Rebound

Home Sales End Tough Year with December Rebound

Earlier today, the National Association of REALTORS released the 2024 Existing-Home Sales Data.  In December, U.S. existing-home sales rose 2.2% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million — the highest level since February 2024.  However, total sales for the year fell 0.7% compared to 2023, marking the lowest annual total since 1995. The national median existing-home price in December was $404,400, up 6% from December 2023, driven by limited inventory.

• 2024 Sales: Finished at 4.06 million, the lowest level in almost 30 years.

• 2024 Median Prices: December's median sales price rose to $404,400, a 6% increase, contributing to a…

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Existing Home Sales Expected to Rise in 2025

Existing Home Sales Expected to Rise in 2025

According to ResiClub's analysis of projections from 16 top industry forecasters, U.S. existing home sales are expected to average around 4.22 million in 2025. Below, you'll find detailed forecasts alongside historical data for added context.

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Ultra-Luxury: The Biggest Deals of 2024

Ultra-Luxury: The Biggest Deals of 2024

The Hitchcock Estate offered for sale in Millbrook. Asking $95,000,000

The ultraluxury segment of the U.S. housing market had another banner year in 2024, with seven single-family homes selling for $100 million or more — surpassing the five such sales recorded in 2023. While the record of eight $100M+ deals set in 2021 remains unbroken, this year’s activity underscores the remarkable resilience of this exclusive market. Many of 2024’s priciest transactions occurred off-market, highlighting the discretion sought by buyers and sellers at this level.

Here are the top 10 deals of 2024:

• Malibu, CA - Undisclosed Buyer - $210M

• Palm Beach, FL - Michael Dorrell - $150M

  …

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