Prominent real estate economist Matthew Gardner shares insights on the first quarter of 2025 — including his takes on tariffs, immigration, brokerage acquisitions, mortgage rates and more.

The average 30-year mortgage saw its contract interest rate jump to 6.90% from 6.81% the week before, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. 

The S.K. Pierce mansion, an alleged hotspot for paranormal activity, hit the market for $1.2 million earlier this month.

The communities, located in Loganville, Buford, Euharlee and Kennesaw, will add over 500 new single-family homes to the local market. 

The surprisingly large decline in the pace of housing starts comes as builder sentiment remains depressed by tariff worries and high prices. 

The development offers 24 fee-simple condominiums priced from $499,900. 

Parejo added that eXp’s recent decision to adhere to Zillow’s anti-private listing policy is not exclusive to the online portal.

In a statement, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman also asked MLSs to create a “coming-soon” designation that precludes search sites from showing listing history. 

eXp Realty was the first brokerage to publicly join Zillow, announcing its commitment to ensuring eXp listings are available on Zillow within 24 hours of marketing to consumers.

The upgrades that brought homeowners the most joy in 2024 were primary bedroom suites, kitchens and new roofing.

The team has opened offices in Cumming and Jasper to serve buyers and sellers in the North Georgia market.

Home sales ramped up in March after a muted February. 

Atlanta housing inventory posted healthy gains, while existing-home sales, housing starts and days on market declined.

By choosing to list their homes privately, homesellers in 2023 and 2024 forwent a collective $1 billion, according to new research from Zillow.

“In a plot twist, baby boomers have overtaken millennials — the largest U.S. population — to become the top generation of homebuyers,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research.

The brokerage was founded in 2017 and is a Hispanic, female-owned, family brokerage.