
BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast Zillow: The Buying Window Could Be Closing in These States
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Oct 10, 2025 Kara Ng, a Senior Economist at Zillow, reveals critical insights into the housing market's shifting landscape. She discusses how dwindling inventory is reshaping buyer competition and pushing prices up. First-time homebuyers can find hope in Zillow's new down payment assistance program, designed to alleviate financial barriers. Kara highlights the root affordability issue, advocating for increased housing construction to bridge the significant shortfall. With mortgage rates expected to stay steady, the market poses challenges for buyers caught between high rent and mortgage payments.
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Assess Affordability Now, Don't Speculate
- Check what you can actually afford at today's prices and mortgage rates before deciding to wait.
- Prioritize whether a home fits your long-term needs over speculating on future rate or price moves.
Rates Likely Stay In 6–7% Range
- Zillow expects prices to be flattish to mildly negative and mortgage rates to stay roughly 6–7% by end of 2026.
- Small rate declines may not improve affordability much because prices could rebound with lower rates.
Tug-Of-War Keeps Rates Elevated
- Mortgage rates remain trapped by two opposing forces: cooling labor markets vs. stubborn inflation.
- That tug-of-war explains why rates hover in a narrow band rather than collapsing.
