Doron's Vlog

Hi, I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and welcome to my July 2025 Market Update! June gave us a market surprise that turned some heads —and this time, in a good way. After a sluggish and jittery spring—complete with stock market swings, economic uncertainty, and the announcement of new tariffs—King County’s housing market pulled a sharp move. Not only did the number of closed sales jump, but so did prices… especially at the high end. As always, the full story lives in the details, so let’s dig into the data. I was curious to see if there were any differences in market activity when looking at the data in three different segments of the market for single family home in King county.  This first chart shows the absorption rate in June—that’s the number of pending sales divided by new listings, which tells us how quickly the market is soaking up new inventory.  Across all three major price points—under $750k, $750k to $1M, and over $1M—the absorption rate rose by about 6%. Final rates were 65%, 66%, and 55% respectively. So while the increase was uniform, the high-end market is still moving more slowly overall. But that’s not the whole story. Here’s where it gets interesting. Take a look at this second chart showing the number of homes sold in each price bracket. Even though the high-end market had the slowest absorption, it still saw a noticeable jump in sales volume. It wasn’t a broad-based surge—it was a targeted burst of activity from high-end buyers who are often less affected by interest rates or market jitters. And that’s what brings us to this third chart—median home prices by segment. You can see that prices rose most dramatically in the higher-end tier. So even though absorption was lower, that concentrated buying pressure on fewer premium homes pushed prices sharply higher. So it’s not that prices jumped across the board—it’s that a handful of heavyweight sales tipped the scales. Pretty wild, right? Now, you might be wondering—with slower absorption and economic jitters—what’s keeping this market from tipping? One key factor is the sharp drop in new listings , which fell 20% to 30% across all price tiers from May to June. That helped keep inventory from ballooning out of control—and in turn, supported pricing. Another metric we track is what we call the demand ratio —pending sales relative to the total number of homes available for sale. That ratio stayed flat from May to June in all price segments, which tells us that while activity increased, the pace of listings declined enough to keep things in relative balance. By the way, if you want to review all of these charts and explore the data at your own pace, you’ll find everything in my July newsletter—available online and for download, for free, at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . That’s Weisbarth.com/newsletter . So what’s the takeaway? The high-end market may be slower-moving, but it’s leading in price appreciation. And while overall buyer confidence isn’t quite where we’d like it to be, lower inventory and targeted demand are keeping this market resilient. If you’re planning to buy or sell this year, strategy matters more than ever. My team and I will help you build a plan that fits the moment—no matter what kind of market we’re in. And remember: when you work with us, you’re also supporting Akin , an amazing nonprofit helping kids and families in need thrive. Your real estate decisions are making a real difference in our community, and we’re so proud to be a part of that. So if you’re ready to make a move—or if you’d like to refer someone—reach out. You can email, text, or use the contact info in the newsletter. But the best way? Just give me a call at 206-779-9808 . That’s 206-779-9808 . I love talking with new people and helping out. Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for more updates. And be sure to check out the full July newsletter at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, enjoy this amazing weather, and I’ll see you next month.

Hi, I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and welcome to my May 2025 Market Update! April gave us one of the stranger market updates we’ve seen in a long while, maybe forever—a real mix of signals that made it harder than usual to interpret what’s going on. Let’s start with the facts.  New listings for single family homes in King County were up 25% over last year—a huge jump. Seattle saw a similar increase at 22%.  I marked the area where I want you to focus your attention with red arrows. This wasn’t just a one-off either; it followed a similar surge in March, so the month-over-month increase was also pretty significant. Normally, you’d expect pending sales to follow suit—but that’s not what happened. Pending sales in King County actually declined  compared to last year, and they barely budged from March, and in Seattle, the numbers increase just slightly from last year. The result? A sharp increase in the total number of homes for sale: up 72% countywide and 59% in Seattle. That is just mind boggling!  And here’s where it gets even more confusing—prices. Median prices shot up to their highest level ever, both in King County and right here in Seattle. So inventory is climbing, buyer activity is flat, and yet prices hit record highs. What’s going on? If you’ve been following my updates, you already know the saying: a confused mind will do nothing. And I think that’s exactly what happened here. First, the implementation of new tariffs sent a jolt through the markets and preceded a notable crash in the stock market. That spooked a lot of buyers—especially those who were planning to fund their home purchase by cashing out stock. Add to that the sudden spike in mortgage interest rates, which shot back up above 7% after spending a good stretch in the mid-6s, and the result was a lot of uncertainty. And as we all know, uncertainty makes people freeze. By the way, if you want to take a closer look at this data and read the full report at your own pace, you’ll find everything in my May newsletter, available online and for download, for free, at Weisbarth.com/Newsletter—that’s Weisbarth.com/Newsletter . Now, the good news is that, as of this recording, interest rates are very slowly beginning to ease back down, the stock market has bounced back, and the broader economy seems to be chugging along just fine. We are seeing more buyer activity again—not as much as we’d like, but the trend is heading in the right direction. And for buyers who’ve gotten used to low inventory levels over the past many years, this recent spike in listings might actually be the nudge they needed to jump back in. For sellers, that’s good news. Because even in a wobbly market, more listings and more choices mean buyers could re-engage—and with prices still holding strong, that creates opportunity. Now, we can’t predict or control erratic market swings, but what we can control—especially in times like these—is smart pricing and strategic marketing. That’s where our team shines. So, if you or someone you know is planning a move soon, let’s talk. We offer a no-obligation consultation where we’ll show you exactly how to tailor our proven systems to your needs—whether you’re buying, selling, or both. And remember, when you work with us, you’re also helping support Akin—an amazing nonprofit that helps kids and families in need thrive. Your business and referrals make a real difference in the community, and with everything that’s going on right now, your help is needed more than ever. So if you’d like to talk—or you want to refer someone—just reach out. You can email, text, or use the contact info in the newsletter. But the best way? Just give me a call directly at 206-779-9808. That’s 206-779-9808. I’d love to connect with new people.  Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for more updates, and be sure to check out the full May newsletter at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, thanks for watching and I’ll see you next month!

Hi, I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and welcome to my April 2025 Market Update! If you’re thinking about selling your home this year, the two big questions on your mind are probably the same ones we hear all the time: Can I get a great price? And are there enough buyers out there? Right now, the answer to both is a confident yes—and the data from March makes a very compelling case. Let’s look at the numbers New listings and pending sales surged last month across King County, especially for single-family homes. In fact, new listings were up nearly 25% compared to March of last year, and pending sales followed right along. That means buyers are not just window-shopping—they’re engaging with the new inventory and making offers. And that’s great news if you’re a seller. Closed sales also rose, though not quite as sharply. Why the lag? Most likely because a large portion of those March listings hit the market later in the month, and many of those pending sales won’t actually close until April. So don’t be surprised if we see an even bigger bump in next month’s data. And yes—prices are rising too. The median sales price in March was up 4.6% year-over-year, almost matching the peak we saw last May. That’s especially impressive given that interest rates are still relatively high compared to recent years. What it tells us is that buyer demand remains strong, and the market is continuing to adjust to current borrowing costs. By the way, if you want to take a closer look at the data and read my full report at your own pace and leisure, you’ll find everything in my April newsletter, available online and for download, for free, at Weisbarth.com/Newsletter—that’s Weisbarth.com/Newsletter . Now, if you compare today’s market to the ultra-busy years of 2021 and 2022, there’s still a gap in overall volume. But what’s interesting is that price growth now feels steadier and more sustainable. In fact, the median price in March 2025 was actually higher than it was back in March 2022—despite lower activity levels and higher mortgage rates today. There’s one more development we need to talk about. Until just recently, mortgage rates had been inching their way down, and there was some optimism that trend might continue. But in the past few days, we’ve seen a sharp reversal, with rates suddenly jumping back into the 7% range. This spike caught a lot of people off guard and reflects the broader volatility we’re seeing in the financial markets. What does this mean for real estate? Well, the short answer is: it’s too early to tell. A sudden jump like this could put pressure on some buyers, especially those who were stretching to qualify. But so far, we haven’t seen much slowdown in buyer activity in our local market. With demand still strong and inventory tight, well-priced homes are continuing to move quickly. Of course, if these higher rates stick around—or climb further—it could have a cooling effect later in the year. But for now, it’s something we’re watching closely. One more factor to keep in mind: the recent wave of new tariffs could push up the cost of construction materials, which may drive new home prices even higher. And when that happens, more buyers tend to shift their focus to resale homes—putting even more pressure on an already tight market. So, what does all of this mean for you? If you’re thinking about selling, you’re stepping into a market with serious buyers, strong pricing, and positive momentum. And if you—or someone you know—is planning a move this year, let’s connect. My team and I offer a no-obligation consultation to help you explore your options and build a strategy that fits your goals. And remember—when you work with us, you’re not just making a smart real estate decision. You’re also supporting Akin, an amazing organization that helps kids and families in need thrive. Your business and referrals help us give back in a meaningful way. So, if you need help—or want to refer someone—just reach out. You can email, text, or use the contact info listed in the newsletter. But the best way? Just give me a call directly at 206-779-9808. That’s 206-779-9808. I’d love to connect. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for more updates, and be sure to check out my April newsletter at Weisbarth.com/newsletter . I’m Doron Weisbarth with Weisbarth & Associates, and I’ll see you next time. Happy Spring!