2025 Wraps with a 30-Year Low in Home Sales — What’s Next?

The Realtor.com® economics team video update gives you the relevant economic and real estate information you need to know each week every Friday to navigate the housing market as a homebuyer, home seller, or industry professional. For the week ending January 23, Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale discusses the upcoming Fed meeting and what the latest labor market and inflation data mean for the decision. Danielle discusses the new record in existing home sales, how housing inventory played a role late in the year, and what the housing data in early January could signal for the year ahead. Finally, Danielle discusses a milestone update on mortgage rate lock-in and the trends driving mortgage rates to buyer-friendly levels. Find all the details including full reports and our housing data for download at realtor.com/research. You can also follow us on X (formerly twitter) for real time updates. And Instagram @realtordotcomecon for graphics. Reports and articles referenced: This week’s video https://www.realtor.com/research/video-economic-and-housing-market-update-january-23-2026/ Realtor.com The Best Markets for First-time Homebuyers in 2026 https://www.realtor.com/research/first-time-homebuyer-markets-2026/ Realtor.com December 2025 Rental Trends Report https://www.realtor.com/research/december-2025-rent/ Realtor.com December 2025 Housing Trends Report hhttps://www.realtor.com/research/december-2025-data/ Realtor.com December 2025 Hottest Housing Markets Report https://www.realtor.com/research/december-2025-hottest-housing-markets/ Realtor.com Time to Save for a Down Payment Report https://www.realtor.com/research/downpayment-savings-december-2025/ Realtor.com Weekly Housing Market Trends – Week of December 13 https://www.realtor.com/research/weekly-housing-trends-view-data-week-january-22-2026/ Commentary on December 2025 Employment Report https://www.realtor.com/research/december-2025-employment-report/ Commentary on December 2025 Consumer Price Index Inflation https://www.realtor.com/research/cpi-inflation-december-2025/ Commentary on December 2025 Existing Home Sales https://www.realtor.com/research/existing-home-sales-december-2025/ Commentary on December 2025 Pending Home Sales https://www.realtor.com/research/existing-home-sales-december-2025/ Commentary on October 2025 New Home Sales https://www.realtor.com/research/new-home-sales-october-2025/ Commentary on October 2025 New Home Construction https://www.realtor.com/research/new-home-construction-october-2025/ Commentary on 2025-Q3 Outstanding Mortgage Data https://www.realtor.com/research/2025-q3-outstanding-mortgage-data/ Commentary on 2025-Q3 U.S. Home Equity Data https://www.realtor.com/research/changes-in-value-of-household-real-estate-q3-2025/ Commentary on Mortgage Rates - January 22, 2026 https://www.realtor.com/research/freddie-mac-mortgage-rates-january-22-2025/ Commentary on Threats to Fed Independence https://www.realtor.com/research/fed-independence-mortgage-rates-powell-investigation/ ********* Find detailed reports at https://www.realtor.com/research/ Find free housing data for download at https://www.realtor.com/research/data ********* Find your home on https://www.realtor.com ********* Download our mobile app: https://www.realtor.com/mobile ********* Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realtor.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realtordotcom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtor.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@realtordotcom X: https://www.twitter.com/realtordotcom Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/realtordotcom -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Learn More about the home buying process: "Home Buying 101: How Do I Get Started?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqZI4ZvjcRM -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- #realtor #realestate