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Buyer Bright Spot: There Are More Homes on the Market

The Gentry Team February 4, 2025

The past few years have been challenging for homebuyers, especially with higher home prices and mortgage rates. And if you’re trying to buy a home, it’s easy to worry you won’t be able to find something in your budget.
 
But here’s what you need to know. The number of homes for sale has grown a whole lot lately and that’s true for both existing (previously lived-in) and newly built homes. Here’s a look at those two bright spots for buyers right now and why they may make it a bit easier to find the home you’re been looking for.
 

1. There Are 22% More Existing Homes for Sale

Data from Realtor says the number of existing homes for sale improved by an impressive 22% in 2024. And experts say your pool of options is expected to get even better this year. Forecasts show inventory is projected to grow another 11-15% by the end of this year (see graph below):
 
 
Here’s why this is so good for your search. If you haven’t seen a house with all the features you need, just know that, as the number of homes for sale grows, you’ll have more options to choose from. That means a better chance of finding a home that checks all your boxes. As Ralph McLaughlin, Senior Economist at Realtor, says:
 
It could be a particularly good time to get out into the market; you’re going to have more choice. And that’s not something that buyers have really had much over the past several years.”
 

2. There Are More Newly Built Homes on the Market

According to data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 31.1%, or roughly 1 in 3, homes on the market right now are newly built homes. That’s more than the norm (see charts below). But don’t worry, that’s not because builders are overdoing it – it’s just that they’re trying to catch up after years of underbuilding.
 
 
And the best part is, since builders have been focusing on smaller homes with lower price points, you may actually find out new builds are less expensive than you’d expect. So, while a lot of people write off new construction because it’s easy to assume the costs are way higher, lately, that price gap isn’t as big as you’d think. As CNET says:
 
“If you live in an area where there’s a lot of new construction happening, you might be able to purchase a new house for a price similar to or even less than a pre-owned one.”
 
If you haven’t been able to find a home that’s in your budget, it’s time to ask your agent about new builds. If you don’t, you may have been cutting your pool of options by about a third.
 

Bottom Line

More choices could be the key to unlocking your homebuying goals in 2025. Reach out if you want to see what’s available in and around our area.
 
What features are you looking for in your next home? Let me know and I’ll put together a list of homes you’d love.

Work With Real Locals

If working with a team that truly gives back to the community matters to you, we would make a great match. Reach out today to get started on buying or selling your home with a team that knows Moore County inside and out. With decades in the industry and an exceptional team of sales specialists, The Gentry Team has sold more homes than any other real estate firm in Moore County—and more than the total volume of most real estate companies in the region. This level of experience is unmatched, allowing us to help you sell your home for top value while anticipating and handling every detail along the way. We work collaboratively, combining our collective expertise to achieve the very best results for our clients. It is an approach built on trust, teamwork, and proven success. When you work with real locals, you get real results.