As the spring homebuying season ended, U.S. home price growth softened significantly, opening the door to improved affordability.

Home-purchase activity remained elevated from 2024, but a cloudy economic outlook has deterred some would-be homebuyers. 

After years of fast-paced home sales, tight inventory and relentless price growth, the U.S. housing market may finally be entering a new chapter.

Geographically, the only region to post a monthly increase in pending sales was the Northeast, where they rose 2.1%, according to NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index.

Nationally, the pace of home-price appreciation declined to its slowest pace in almost two years, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. 

A new report from U-Haul identified the most common states of origin for do-it-yourself movers who relocated to Atlanta. 

The inventory of new homes for sale surged year over year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.    

Real estate economist Matthew Gardner joins Agent Publishing Co-Publisher Anne Hartnett to unpack the biggest housing trends from the second quarter, plus the potential impact of a new Fed chair and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

At the same time, the pace of existing-home sales declined from May’s level. 

Nationally, home sales rose 5.7% year over year and 1.3% month over month, RE/MAX said. 

New single-family home construction declined as builders continue to grapple with macroeconomic headwinds. 

Purchase applications slowed to their lowest level since May as economic worries dampened activity, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. 

Purchase applications hit their highest level since February 2023. 

Home sales were up 8.4% year over year, while the median sales price slid 2.8%. 

At the same time, houses spent longer on the market while inventory surged.

May’s 1.8% monthly gain follows a 6.3% drop in April, the National Association of REALTORS® said.