Owning real estate can be a cornerstone of long-term prosperity and even generational wealth as borrowers pay down mortgages and property values appreciate over time.

More than half of Americans (52%) define financial success as owning a home, according to Empower research. There’s been good reason to think that way with home equity levels doubling to $35 trillion during the past seven years.¹

High prices and high mortgage rates have created challenges in today’s housing market. But those factors don’t seem to have dampened the American dream of homeownership. Some buyers and sellers are becoming more flexible and creative as they navigate sales. 

In May, The Currency^TM is focusing on real estate and housing trends. Keep an eye out for these articles:

Spring kick off 

Mortgage rates sometimes fall during periods of economic uncertainty, but they’ve remained in the high 6% range during the crucial spring selling season.²  The Currency will explore how other factors might work in the buyer’s favor, including home inventories.

The number of homes available from the "Silver Wave" of Americans looking to downsize is growing, especially in less-expensive metro areas like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, and New Orleans.³ The Currency will take a look at the growing supply of empty-nest homes and how younger buyers willing to relocate can leverage the trend.

Many home buyers are gaining extra negotiating power this year. Some 44.4% of home sellers granted buyers concessions in the first quarter of 2025, for things like home repairs, closing costs, and rate buydowns. That’s close to a record high.

Jumping in 

First-time home buyers make up nearly one-quarter of home sales, but not always for primary residences. The Currency will explore why some first-time buyers are choosing to purchase investment properties like vacation homes and long-term rentals, before primary homes, and continuing to pay rent themselves.

On the growth front, more than 500,000 new apartment units were completed in the U.S. in 2024, and the National Association of Home Builders forecasts that single-family starts should still rise 0.2% this year to an annual rate of 1.01 million units.^4,5 The Currency will delve into the homebuilding industry and its role as an employer in today’s market.

Stay or go? 

Many Americans are hesitant to break the home piggy bank, even for an upgrade.  Just over half of homeowners surveyed said they’d accept a mortgage rate up to 5.5% on their next purchase, while only 16% said they’d stretch to 7%.⁶ The Currency will take a closer look at the benefits of staying put.

New regulations in some states, and proposed regulations in others, could ease restrictions on the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs).7 More homeowners are using these units as rentals and some are even selling them separately, like a condominium.8

The Currency will report on the surging popularity of ADUs and how it could impact the housing market.