‘It could have been us’: Houston Realtor shares flood survival story

‘It could have been us’: Houston Realtor shares flood survival story

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Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

That’s the sound that startled Houston-based Realtor Ricky Gonzalez out of his sleep in the wee hours of July 4.

“We were in Kerrville for the Fourth of July and to celebrate my friend Mark’s birthday. I arrived around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., and it was just kind of drizzling. It wasn’t flooding or anything like that,” he said. “I stayed up pretty late, up to at least, like, two o’clock. We went to bed, and then Nash, the dog, was barking. He was pawing at the door. We noticed it was around 5:43 a.m., and we were like, ‘Oh, go to sleep, Nash.’ Eventually, my friend Bert woke up and checked on Nash, and when he opened the window, he saw his partner’s truck floating away.”

The drizzle that lulled Gonzalez to sleep just hours earlier had transformed into a raging river surge, carrying four of his friends’ trucks several miles downstream. The remaining truck was lodged into the lower level of the Airbnb, with a few load-bearing beams keeping it from breaking through to the other side. Upstairs, Gonzalez and his 12 friends were frantically gathering coolers, pool noodles and floaties — anything that could help them float in case the river began to swallow the second floor.

Ricky Gonzalez

“We just went into survival mode. We all started assigning each other different tasks,” he told Inman. “I said, ‘Okay, let me find an attic.’ The reason I was looking for an attic is because, obviously, Houston, we’re familiar with flooding due to [Hurricane] Katrina and all of that. I was scared that the water was going to rise, and I wanted to make sure we could get onto the roof. I was prepared to bust through the attic, if we needed to.”

Fortunately, Gonzalez located two large windows in the attic that his housemates could use to climb onto the roof. He kept the attic door open, directing everyone to be ready to evacuate if the water reached the balcony. Amid the calls to emergency personnel and the Airbnb’s owners, who narrowly escaped their RV during the surge, Gonzalez paused to FaceTime his sister and offer what could’ve been his last goodbyes.

“Next door to our house, there was a one-story house, and I didn’t see it anymore. It was gone. I could hear people screaming from the river. I don’t know if any of them made it,” he said. “I particularly called my sister on FaceTime several times just to let her know, ‘Hey, this is where I am. You have my location, but in case I don’t see you…’ I was kind of giving my goodbye.”

For more than two hours, Gonzalez and his friends were trapped on the second floor — waiting to be rescued.

Their ordeal finally came to an end when Gonzalez popped his head out of a window, attempting to show his sister via FaceTime what’d happened to the cinderblock fence that surrounded the backyard. By then, the surge had subsided, allowing a nearby family, Leo and Paula Garcia, to spot Gonzalez and help them leave the Airbnb, which was at risk of collapsing.

“They saw me hanging out the window, and they waved at me. I waved back and went to the front of the house,” he said. “They said the house was pretty beat up and that we needed to get out. Thankfully, by then, the water was waist-deep. Even though the water was still rushing, they helped us make a line of 13 people with five dogs, which we carried out.”

The Garcias drove everyone to their home, which had been spared from the worst of the flooding, and cooked breakfast. Afterwards, the Garcias drove Gonzalez and his friends 65 miles to the San Antonio International Airport so they could rent cars and find lodging for the night.

“We spent the night in San Antonio and the next morning, in our rental cars, we drove back just to assess the damage,” he said. “I left my keys inside my car, so I just wanted to see if I could find them. And thankfully, we found one of the cars about, you know, two, three miles down river, and then I was able to get my keys. It was just crazy to see all of what was underwater. The house was about 100 yards away from the river, so it was crazy that the surge went that far out.”

Gonzalez has had little time to decompress since returning to Houston, as he spent Saturday night doing two interviews with CNN — the network had noticed an Instagram video Gonzalez posted about his experience. Since then, another 60 to 70 global news outlets have reached out to Gonzalez for interviews, but he’s turned them all down.

“I just don’t feel like getting on camera and doing all that again,” he said. “It really didn’t hit me till [Tuesday]. I was lying in bed and just going back and looking at the videos I recorded during the flood. I could hear the fear in my voice. I was trying to stay calm, but I could hear the fear. I wasn’t even speaking correctly, and I was cursing a lot, just because I was like, ‘What is going on?’”

“And then seeing the death count go up to above 100, man, like, I don’t know … This, very easily, could have ended very differently for us,” he added. “There was another story that I heard of a group of friends who were on a balcony, just like we were. There were fewer friends, but they got swept away. And I told my group of friends, ‘This could have been us.’”

Despite the immeasurable loss, which includes nearly 120 deaths and 173 people still missing, Gonzalez said he still sees a sliver of light.

“Despite all the craziness around this world and the hatred, [that family] was quick to take us in. It proves that people still live their lives full of love and share that with others. There are people still doing the right thing,” he said. “My mom would always say, ‘You never go wrong by doing it right.’ I’m just grateful for the people who saved us.”

Gonzalez said he’s contacted the Airbnb hosts and the family who helped him and his friends escape. Both parties are safe and sound, and he’s figuring out ways to repay their kindness and help the wider Kerrville community.

“Having just recently gone through losing my mom, and I know search and rescue is happening, but there are a lot of people who will need to pay for a funeral. That’s something no one ever really talks about or prepares you for. And I want to help. My friends want to help. So we’re figuring out a good way to help those families because funerals aren’t cheap, especially when you may have to bury multiple people.”

In the meantime, Gonzalez said he trusts that the real estate community, as they’ve done many times before, will step up and support affected families.

“The real estate industry is very close-knit,” he said. “I’ve had amazing Houston Association of Realtors and Texas Realtors leaders reach out, check in and see how they can help,” he said.  “The Texas Realtor Relief Program is a great place to start, but it’s going to be a long road to recovery. You can donate, you can share resources and, sometimes, just being a listening ear can mean a lot.”

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‘Small acts of kindness’ abound in Texas Hill Country flood aftermath

‘Small acts of kindness’ abound in Texas Hill Country flood aftermath

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Last year, Jim D’Amico survived Hurricane Milton.

The storm tore through Florida’s Gulf Coast, leading to the deaths of three residents and more than $35 billion in residential and commercial damages. Amid the chaos, D’Amico, who owns Century 21 Integra, leaped into action, using funds from the brokerage’s longstanding nonprofit, Fresh Start, to help Floridians who’d lost their homes and livelihoods get their lives back on track.

The footage of cars, homes, and torn belongings floating through Texas’s Hill Country after a 26-foot river surge, which resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people on Friday, reminded D’Amico of the aftermath of Milton. He realized he needed to step in once again.

“Fresh Start was developed originally for people in recovery who might need a place to live, people returning from the military, or anyone who had a situation where they couldn’t make ends meet to fulfill their basic needs, like housing,” he said. “And then the last couple of years, it’s kind of evolved into more of like an aid mission when areas are hit with storms.”

Jim D’Amico

D’Amico opened Fresh Start’s coffers and turned his four Hill Country offices into supply stations, with agents in Fredericksburg, Seguin, and San Antonio gathering essential goods, like bottled water and nonperishable food, and delivering them to the Kerrville office for distribution.

“This is a situation where there’s no amount of money that can help heal some of the losses that have taken place in this particular catastrophe, and honestly, you know, prayers are probably more needed than anything else to help people deal with the loss of their children and other loved ones,” he said. “But, we’re doing what we can.”

“We started fundraising on Monday, and in less than 24 hours, we’ve received $5,000,” he added. “We plan to match $25,000 in donations, with a long-term goal of raising $100,000. One hundred percent of everything that’s donated is given directly to people in need.”

Alongside individual brokers, major players are stepping up to the plate, using their broad networks to support survivors, affected families, and first responders who are still navigating dangerous terrain to locate missing victims before another week of dangerous thunderstorms rolls in.

KW Cares, the philanthropic arm of Texas-based franchisor Keller Williams, has spent the past several days checking on KW’s Hill Country offices and supporting first responders. KW Cares CEO Alexia Rodriguez said all of the franchisor’s Hill Country agents have been contacted and given assistance, which includes coverage of immediate needs and eventual access to emergency grants up to $5,000 and catastrophic hardship grants up to $30,000.

The franchisor also donated $150,000 to Texas Search and Rescue and Mercy Chefs on Tuesday.

Alexia Rodriguez

“The first thing that we’ve been doing is making sure all of our associates are accounted for. That is always our number one priority, and thank God, we have accounted for everybody in the affected areas. That’s priority number one, right?” Rodriguez said. “Now, what we’re trying to do is assess property damage. But some folks have not been able to make it back to their homes. Roads have been washed out. They just haven’t even had a chance to eyeball their property themselves.”

Rodriguez said KW Cares is working with KW’s top-line and regional leadership to craft a response plan for the coming weeks. Right now, Rodriguez said it’s important to give first responders room to continue search efforts and secure the riverfront, which is currently covered with debris from nearby homes and campgrounds.

“We can’t be boots on the ground because it’s not appropriate for us to do so right now,” she said. “But we do want to take care of the folks that are taking care of the community. So later this week, we are going to start serving lunches through our business center in Kerrville to the first responders in the area. “We want to make sure that we’re giving back to the community in that way.”

Keller Williams is only one of many brokerages and franchisors rallying their networks to support flood relief efforts, with Anywhere Real Estate, RE/MAX, Douglas Elliman, Compass, Ebby Halliday Realtors, and Epique Realty urging agents to donate to their philanthropic partners, like the American Red Cross, or to their nonprofit arms to support relief efforts.

Texas Realtors also announced its coordination with the National Association of Realtors and local Realtor associations, such as the Central Hill County Board of Realtors and Kerrville Board of Realtors, to disperse funds and other resources to communities throughout the Hill Country.

Christy Gessler

“Texas Realtors is working with and contributing to community organizations in affected areas through the Texas Realtors Disaster Relief Fund to get immediate assistance to those who need it most,” Texas Realtors Chairman of the Board Christy Gessler told Inman in a written statement. “We’re also working with local associations to identify other areas that need help, as this tragedy is ongoing.”

“We know the importance of getting funds and resources to these communities as quickly as possible, and these local organizations are actively providing essential assistance for those in need,” she added. “We also know that many Realtors in these communities and from other locations have come to lend a hand—delivering supplies, clearing debris, and helping out in any way they can.”

Although the nation’s attention is currently focused on the tragedy in Hill Country, D’Amico, Rodriguez, REAL Vice President of U.S Operations Jemila Winsey, and Spyglass Realty broker-owner Ryan Rodenbeck said they understand there will be a day when media attention fades.

Ryan Rodenbeck

“It’s going to take a long time to get all of that cleaned up. So many people lost their businesses, their livelihoods, and their family members,” said Rodenbeck, whose brokerage is raising money for the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and several other area nonprofits. “We have to raise awareness and keep raising awareness. A lot of brokerages have newsletters, and we can use them to keep the story alive and fresh in people’s minds.”

“People are going to be hurting from this for a long time,” he added.

Winsey said the real estate community is in a unique position to help victims walk the long road to recovery.

Jemila Winsey

“What’s been hard to shake is this: just one weekend earlier, we were in Fredericksburg, 31 miles from Kerrville, relaxing with some of our closest friends over wine and laughter. It was calm, beautiful, full of joy,” she said. “And then, just days later, people nearby were clinging to rooftops and losing everything. That contrast has been hard to carry.”

Winsey said this week hasn’t been “about deals or deadlines,” as she’s helped five agents in her circle get to safety. Although everyone can’t make five-figure donations or dedicate a week to volunteering, Winsey said “small acts of kindness” — such as checking in with affected colleagues by call or text, posting links to verified GoFundMe or nonprofit fundraisers on social media, or connecting families with trusted vendors who offer rental, moving or repair services — still make a huge difference.

“Whatever it is, big or small, someone out there could really use it,” she said. “You don’t have to do everything. But doing something from the heart, really makes a difference.”

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Mortgage rate drop unlikely after strong June jobs report

Mortgage rate drop unlikely after strong June jobs report

The report beat analyst expectations by 37,000 jobs, curtailing hopes of a short-term rate cut in July. Several economists say mortgage rates will likely stay elevated and keep homebuyers on the sidelines.

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The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, curtailing hopes of another mortgage rate drop amid slowing homebuying and homeselling activity.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report exceeded analyst expectations by 37,000 jobs, as unemployment rates dropped 3 percent month-over-month to 4.1 percent. The majority of job losses came from the federal government, due to the Trump Administration’s months-long mission to streamline multiple agencies and departments.

Dr. Lisa Sturtevant

Bright MLS Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant said the June report reflects the strength of the U.S. market despite a topsy-turvy trade and interest rate environment.

“There had been expectations that the June jobs report would indicate that businesses were holding back on hiring as a result of uncertainty around tariffs and elevated interest rates,” she said. “But there were strong gains in employment in the health care sector, while state and local governments also ramped up hiring in June. The June report included a 7,000 drop in Government employment, but again, this was far less than had been expected.”

Even though the June report bodes well for the overall economy, Sturtevant and Realtor.com Sr. Economist Jake Krimmel said it could lead to continued headwinds for the housing market.

After the jobs report was released, the CME FedWatch Tool, which tracks futures markets to gauge investor sentiment, put the odds of a July 30 Fed rate cut at 5 percent, down from 24 percent on Wednesday. Bets placed by futures market investors Thursday suggest the odds of a September rate has dropped to 67 percent, down from 94 percent on Wednesday.

Short-term rate cuts don’t guarantee that mortgage rates will drop; however, there is a correlation between the two metrics.

“Signs of a cooling labor market in today’s BLS report could have provided the Federal Reserve the data it needs to cut interest rates when they meet at the end of July,” Sturtevant said. “However, with the employment numbers coming in strongly and with continued expectations that tariffs will lead to higher inflation, it is likely that the Fed is again going to hold off on rate cuts.”

“Mortgage rates had been edging down slightly this summer even without action by the Fed, but, so far, those lower rates have not been enough to drive higher home sales activity,” she added. “It is unlikely that we will see any significant drop in mortgage rates this summer.”

Jacob Krimmel

Krimmel said the housing market will remain in a “holding pattern,” as sticky mortgage rates prevent homebuyers from taking advantage of a boom in inventory rates.

“Realtor.com data show rising inventory for the 19th straight month, but sales are slowing. Homes are sitting on the market nearly a week longer than a year ago, and price cuts have reached record levels, indicating sellers are having a harder time finding a buyer — despite slightly lower mortgage rates in recent weeks,” he said. “High interest rates and the lingering lock-in effect are still keeping many would-be buyers and sellers on the sidelines.”

“The July 9 tariff decision could also reshape the inflation outlook and, combined with June’s above-expectation job growth, may keep the Fed cautious about cutting rates before September,” he added. “For housing demand to meaningfully rebound, affordability must improve — through both a more balanced market and wage growth that keeps up with living costs. A strong and stable labor market remains key to unlocking that path forward.”

Although a July rate cut is unlikely, Mortgage Bankers Association SVP and Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said the Association still anticipates two short-term rate cuts before the end of 2025.

“… These data indicate a job market that is holding up reasonably well given the uncertainties facing this economy,” he said. “While there are certainly some signs of softening in the private sector, the report is likely to keep the Federal Reserve on hold for now. MBA is still forecasting two cuts from the Fed this year.”

“Potential homebuyers are likely to remain cautious unless, and until, the job market begins to improve again, or mortgage rates drop sufficiently to spur more activity,” he added.

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Brian Buffini: ‘Apathy’ is the greatest threat to real estate

Brian Buffini: ‘Apathy’ is the greatest threat to real estate

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The emergence of large language models, like ChatGPT, has transformed artificial intelligence from an esoteric plaything to a tangible tool that influences business and everyday life. While AI has proved its utility in taking on some of agents’ most dreaded tasks, like crafting quick emails and analyzing long documents, Buffini & Company Chairman and Founder Brian Buffini said he fears that the industry’s AI obsession may be feeding a simmering apathy toward the basics of good business.

“We just launched a hugely successful launch of our AI training program, and I don’t want to be part of the people thinking, ‘Oh yeah, AI is going to do all the work for me. I’m going to sit by the beach, and they’re going to click ‘add this home’ to my shopping cart and email me the check,’” he told Inman. “That’s just not the deal. That’s just not how real estate works.”

“People have to snap out of it because it’s 90 days to sell a home now, not 10 days. You have to work,” he added. “I’m excited to kind of help people to put a fresh look on fundamentals, to bring a fresh approach to training, and help agents be at their very best. That’s my drum that I’ve been beating.”

Ahead of his first-ever Inman Connect appearance, Buffini dove into the challenge of leveraging technology, battling apathy amid strengthening market headwinds, and building the attitude it takes to pull yourself out of a business rut.

The conversation that follows has been edited for length and clarity.

Inman: This is your first time speaking at Inman Connect. What are you most excited about?

Brian Buffini: You know, you only get to do something for the first time once, right? So I’m excited. I’ve known Brad [Inman] a long time, I’ve done interviews with Brad, and I just have always had huge demand on my schedule for our Buffini & Company events, and then demand outside of it. So the planets never really aligned. And then when [Inman CEO] Emily [Paquette] reached out and said, ‘Hey, we’re coming to San Diego,’ my schedule was open and I was fired up. It’s right here in San Diego, in my backyard, and so it’s exciting. I’m fired up. San Diego is the best place in the world to come to, so it’ll be great.

Your session for Inman Connect San Diego is ‘The Era of High Tech, High Touch.’ That’s such a timely topic, especially in light of the intensifying conversation about artificial intelligence, its role in business and society, and the fear that it will replace humans. Can you talk about your philosophy through the lens of the latest tech revolution we’re experiencing?

Buffini & Company’s brand is that we’re old school — just fundamentals, pick them up and put them down, write your notes, and make your calls. But our company probably has as much tech as anybody in the industry. We have our own CRM, which is award-winning. We have our own AI training program. So we have all this stuff that does the heavy administrative and organizational lifting so agents can free up their time, improve their quality, so that they can spend more time face-to-face with people. It’s still a relationship business. The number one driver for people is trust.

Data just came out from the National Association of Realtors showed that 66 percent of all transactions are repeat and referral customers. Forty-two percent of all buyers and sellers are baby boomers, 24 percent are Gen Xers, and 29 percent are millennials. Millennials are very sophisticated with tech; they understand tech, and yet they’re more likely to go and get a personal endorsement for an agent than any other group. You know, Gen Z, which is the hyper-tech generation, is only 3 percent of the market. So the vast majority of the business still relies on personal endorsements.

But I believe the business has lost its focus. We had a super hot market for 14 years, and what’s happened is we have an industry that’s after the lawsuits, after the settlements, and has basically fallen into a state of apathy. Buffini & Company has 3,600 brokers who are certified mentors, and the number one feedback we hear is that the agents are just they’re full of apathy. They’re waiting for the market to change. They’re waiting for the rates to change. They’re waiting for AI to save them, and we have an industry that’s lost its way when it comes to the fundamentals.

It’s about building relationships, going the extra mile for people, exceeding expectations, pouring into people, and becoming their trusted advisor. So use the high tech, but you’ve got to leverage the high touch, and if you do that, that’s the winner. I’m concerned for the new people who’ve just come into the industry. I’m concerned for the people who never developed the fundamentals, and then I’m concerned with the people who lost the fundamentals by not practicing them. So that’s my passion. That’s where I’m at, and that’s why I’m coming to Inman Connect.

I’m a millennial. We’re the generation that grew up during the shift from analog to digital, and we’ve learned every corner of the internet, good and bad. I find that my friends and I lean on getting those personal referrals when making big purchases or decisions because we know how much noise, smoke, and mirrors are online. How can agents cut through that noise, especially when a buyer or seller can come across dozens of agents a day on their social media feed?

We have a whole system, which is sorting and qualifying the database and then building relationships. Building relationships with people is about providing value — systematically and on purpose. It’s about educating you and bringing you along. ‘Hey, here’s how you improve your credit score. Hey, here’s how you can eliminate higher-interest debt. Here’s how you can save money for a down payment. Here are the programs that are available to help someone who’s a first-time buyer.’

So there’s just an awful lot of ability to provide information and to serve and serve unconditionally. The key is what our philosophy is: you give, then you ask to receive. I’m not focused on the fact that Marian may be buying or selling a home. I’m focused on the fact that I want to be Marian’s go-to person. So anytime she thinks of real estate, she thinks of me. If she has a question, if her family has a question, I’m the person she turns to. I’m at the housewarming after closing with ketchup, mustard and relish for everyone. I’m the person who shows up with de-icer during the winter, and I’m the person who has a roofer when you experience a leak.

Here’s my final question. I want to go back to what you said about apathy. What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to the agent who’s never built relationship skills, and what’s one piece of advice you’d give to the agent who once had that fire, but who’s lost it over time?

Well, you know, I’m in San Diego and one of the things you’ll see every day is the Navy SEALs. And the Navy SEALs say a few things. They go, ‘We’re not trying, we’re training.’

There are an awful lot of people right now who are trying very hard to do business. They’re trying new techniques, they’re trying new technologies, but what they’re not doing is training. Now is not the time to try — now is the time to train. I’ve built all these training programs for years, like our 100 Days to Greatness program for brand-new agents. The average realtor sells less than six homes a year and makes $35,000 in gross commissions a year. We’ve had 79,000 people go through this training program and do seven transactions in 100 days, and we teach them the fundamentals.

We hear people say, ‘Oh, it’s a lot of work, and it’s 12 weeks.’ And what younger people are asking for is, ‘Hey, can you give me the three-minute YouTube clip that shows me how to build a successful business?’ That’s not real estate. You have to invest the time.

I was an immigrant and in America with $92 to my name, got in a motorcycle accident and owed $252,000 in 1986. Real estate allowed me to dig my way out of that hole. It’s about working for referrals — not waiting for referrals, not wishing for referrals. You actually have to work and put the effort in to get the results out.

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Inventory has doubled in nearly half of the US’s largest markets

Inventory has doubled in nearly half of the US’s largest markets

Robust new construction activity and subdued homebuyer demand has led to an inventory boom in 22 of the 50 largest markets, with metros in the South and on the West Coast seeing active inventory double compared to 2019.

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Nearly half of the nation’s largest 50 metros are in the midst of an inventory boom, with the South and West Coast leading the way in markets where inventory levels are up to 100 percent higher than pre-pandemic trends, according to Realtor.com’s latest market report.

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Danielle Hale | Credit: Realtor.com

Denver (+100 percent), Austin (+69 percent), Seattle (+60.9 percent), Dallas-Fort Worth (+ 55.5 percent) and San Antonio (+58.3 percent) logged the greatest gains. Realtor.com attributed these gains to two primary factors — robust building activity during and post-pandemic, and a slowdown in homebuyer activity, which has allowed active inventory levels to reach new heights.

“For-sale housing inventory in Denver has doubled compared with the pre-pandemic norm, providing a clear sign of a housing market realignment,” Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale said in a written statement. “In some areas, affordability concerns have also slowed buyer demand, giving the market room to breathe and contributing to gains in homes for sale. In general, we’re seeing strong inventory rebounds in metros that have built more in the [past] six years.”

Realtor.com said there’s a strong correlation between a metro’s 2019 to 2025 new construction rates and the growth in active listings. Metros that have built more than the national average of seven housing units per 100 residents over the past six years have experienced stronger inventory recoveries compared to those that have not, the report said.

Pandemic boomtowns like Austin, Nashville, and Denver are the clearest examples of this correlation, Realtor.com said, with their current inventory levels matching or exceeding pre-pandemic trends. Meanwhile, metros like New York, Boston, Baltimore and Buffalo, which have built less than seven housing units per 100 residents over the past six years, are still struggling to see meaningful inventory increases.

Realtor.com said there are a few outliers in the trend. Despite lagging in new construction starts and completions, San Francisco has more active listings than pre-pandemic trends. Meanwhile, Richmond, Virginia, still has a dearth of listings, despite robust building trends. Affordability seems to be the leading factor in these outliers, the report said, with homebuyers flocking to metros with the best deals, even if listing availability is slim.

Although inventory levels are the best they’ve been in years for many markets, Hale said that doesn’t mean we’re in a buyers’ market.

In May, the market had 4.6 months of supply at the current sales pace — two months away from the six-month threshold for a buyers’ market. Still, homebuyers have greater negotiating power this spring and summer, as days on market in many metros have increased by double digits.

“This milestone underscores both the importance of enabling housing construction and the growing divide in housing conditions across regions, where some markets are rapidly normalizing and others remain stuck in low-supply dynamics,” she said.

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