Housing Market

Home buyers who are focusing on the Seattle metro area should know that it's one of the fastest-moving real estate markets in the U.S. On average, homes listed for sale in the Seattle area tend to sell much faster than in other parts of the country. This creates a unique set of challenges for Seattle home buyers. But for every challenge there's a solution, and this guide will give you the knowledge you need to succeed.'

During the summer of last year, the median home price in Orange County rose above the $1 million threshold for the first time ever. And now, at the start of 2025, Orange County home prices have cleared the $1.1 million mark. As usual, supply and demand are driving these recent housing market trends in Orange County. Inventory levels have declined a bit over the past year, while home sales have increased. This makes the market more competitive while boosting prices at the same time.'

People researching the Seattle-area real estate market are often surprised by the home price discrepancy between Tacoma and Seattle. Home prices within the city of Tacoma tend to be significantly lower than those in Seattle. But why? What factors make the Tacoma real estate market so much more affordable, when compared to the city of Seattle? After all, they're both part of the same metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and only about 30 miles apart.'

We've published many Seattle real estate market reports over the years, and most were geared toward home buyers. Today, we'll offer some helpful insights for tech employees who are planning to relocate to Seattle in 2024.'

Portland, Oregon, home buyers could enjoy a slower real estate market in 2025, with lower home prices and mortgage rates. For these and other reasons, the Portland housing market could be more buyer-friendly in 2025 compared to the past few years. Here's an updated look at current real estate trends across the Portland-Vancouver metro area, emphasizing the above buyer-friendly conditions.'

Like many parts of the country, California's housing market has suffered from chronically low inventory levels for quite some time. Supply levels dropped further during the last few months due to higher mortgage rates that cooled the real estate market. But in the early days of 2025, California housing market inventory levels are starting to rise again. And once again, mortgage rates play a central role. Rate reductions over the past couple of months have brought more sellers into the market, increasing inventory levels.'