If you were anticipating a full-blown identity crisis in the market, i.e. a moment of reflection, a long stare into the mirror, and a sudden, heartfelt desire to become more affordable — alas, this is not that moment. As we learned from the irrefutable statistics from last week’s article, this is simply reporting the facts, not torturing numbers.

This week’s statistics are brought to you by the 2025 Home Sales Report. The culmination of this report essentially confirms what both buyers and sellers already know to be true; the market didn’t explode, collapse, or dramatically reinvent itself.

Let’s begin with the number everyone cares about most: price.

The median sold price in 2025 clocked in at just under $513,000. That is up from $502,000, just one year prior. Although the leap isn’t jaw-dropping, it is enough to remind both buyers and sellers that waiting around for prices to drop may start to feel like waiting for your favorite high school jeans to fit again.

While this may not be a giant leap, it is the real estate equivalent of your morning donut run going up by 11 bucks (no wonder your high school jeans don’t fit). While we may miss the frantic energy of bidding wars and handwritten emotional letters, the market is doing exactly what it “normally” does. It has unapologetically nudged upward, a fitting response to a previous frenzy.

Lest there is thought of little sales activity on the horizon, worry not. Buyers are still buying; they are just using calculators now. Despite interest rates going back to normal, home values still inching up and general economic fatigue, homes are still selling.

The total home sales in 2025 reached 9,830. Last year the number was 9,636. Sure, the increase is modest, but it does prove that not all buyers were caught up in the Rapture. They just got pickier and much more deliberate with their choices.

Today’s buyers are showing up armed with spreadsheets and questions. What is the age of the roof? How old is the HVAC system? When was the water heater replaced? This means that those sellers who have vacuumed, done the dishes, decluttered, and refrained from covering odors with a Glade Plugin, and listened to their agents about pricing, will be the winners in this market.

The real shift from 2024 to 2025, however, was in inventory. In 2025, 14,425 homes were listed. In 2024 there were 13,277. The increase seems modest on paper, but in practice, it changes the entire conversation.

More inventory means more competition among sellers. The options make buyers bold. Gone are the days of offering up your first born (mine is a 33-year-old female living in a high-rent district with bougie taste and a modest income…lots of luck), and promising no inspection to get an offer accepted. Buyers are more apt to ask for repairs, negotiate closing costs, and take a few days, or even weeks, before finally submitting an offer. While both buyers and sellers are sitting in the proverbial front seat, the buyers are driving.

The reality in today’s market, with all proper and perfect numbers present to prove it, is this: homes that are well priced with good curb appeal and properly presented are still moving. Homes that are overpriced, under-prepped, or smell like a high-school gym locker are going to sit. Relying solely on location as a personality trait is just not going to cut it.

Moving forward, we can say with certainty that we are in a market of grown-ups. Prices are holding, inventory is healthy. Buyers are cautious but committed. Sellers have reasonable leverage, but only when realistic.

In this market, adulting is the verb. Strategy matters, preparation is not optional and experienced professionals are essential. Making responsible decisions is a refreshing trend. We have been here before. It is exactly where we need to be.

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com