The Real Estate Digest 5/26/25

May 26, 2025

Good Morning! It’s Monday, May 26th. 

What do you call a pirate who designs houses?
An arrrgchetect!

In This Week’s Edition:

HOME STATUS
Market Remains Steady,

Insight: New homes decreased in Athens, but increased in Oconee. Closed homes increased in both Athens and Oconee.

SPOTLIGHT
Featured Property of the Week

Welcome to 1080 Timarron Trail. This beautiful five-bedroom home offers the ideal blend of comfort, functionality, and charm. Step inside to find rich hardwood floors and an impressive two-story family room that fills with natural light, making it perfect for gatherings and everyday living. A guest bedroom and full bath on the main level provide convenience and flexibility for visitors or multigenerational living. Upstairs, the expansive owner’s suite serves as a true retreat, featuring a spa-like bathroom with a soaking tub, glass-enclosed shower, and elegant finishes. Three additional bedrooms offer ample space for a growing family, or a home office.

Designed with entertaining in mind, this home boasts a formal dining room, a spacious eat-in kitchen, and a large deck. The recently renovated upstairs bathrooms add a touch of modern luxury.

Situated on a generous, level lot in the sought-after North Oconee School District, you’ll enjoy quick access to local shopping, downtown Watkinsville, Athens, Veterans Park, and the University of Georgia.

This is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Please conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any investment decisions.

MARKET CONDITIONS
Inventory Growth Starts to Slow

Insight: Athens inventory has slowed down over the past few weeks, but is still increasing. Oconee inventory has dropped, but it slowly grew this week.

NATIONAL
Weekly Noteworthy News

New-Home Sales Jump in April Thanks to Affordable Options, Despite Market Challenges

Sales of newly constructed single-family homes rose sharply in April, even as high mortgage rates, mixed consumer confidence, and economic uncertainties, continued to weigh on the housing market. The unexpected boost appears to be driven largely by an increase in more budget-friendly home offerings.

According to recent data from the Census Bureau, new home sales climbed 10.9% from March, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 743,000. Compared to the same time last year, this marks a 3.3% gain. However, March's sales numbers were revised downward, from 724,000 to 693,000.

The median price of new homes in April was $407,200, which is slightly up from March but still about 2% lower than April of last year. Economists suggest the rising share of lower-priced homes is helping to support overall sales numbers, even in a market that's been tough on affordability.

Despite these gains, industry experts caution against reading too much into the April surge. Lower-cost homes under $400,000 made up a larger share of sales compared to a year ago, but overall buyer conditions remain difficult. In contrast to the new-home market, the resale market has been stronger at the high end, with pricier homes moving more quickly than affordable ones.

Although the pace of sales picked up, the number of homes on the market remained high. At the end of April, about 504,000 newly built homes were still available, consistent with recent months. This marks the third month in a row that inventory has remained above the half-million mark. The number of homes available represents an 8.1-month supply, slightly higher than last year’s estimate of 7.7 months.

However, more new homes for sale haven't yet broken ground (119,000 units) than those that are fully built but still unsold (117,000 units), raising questions about builder confidence. Ongoing policy changes, and elevated costs may be causing some developers to hesitate before starting construction.

Some analysts suggest the April data might be a one-time blip rather than a turning point, pointing to broader year-to-date figures that show new-home sales are still down slightly overall, off by 1.2% compared to the same period last year.

MORTGAGE RATES
Easing Global Tensions Keep Rates Under 7%

Insight: Mortgage rates rise a little bit, but still remain below 7%.

PODCAST
Why is 2025 a Prime Year for Multi-Family?

In this episode, Michael Blank breaks down why 2025 could be a prime year to enter or expand in multifamily real estate. He explains how current market conditions, marked by softening prices, moderating interest rates, and evolving investor expectations, are creating unique opportunities with lower risk and strong long-term upside.

Key takeaways include:

  • Market Timing: Why today’s environment may offer a rare entry point for multifamily investors.

  • Resilience Story: How Michael recovered from early financial losses to build a $300M portfolio.

  • Investor Psychology: What’s causing hesitation in the market and how to navigate it.

  • Economic Forces: How tariffs, inflation, and interest rates are impacting deal structures and underwriting.

  • Strategy Comparison: Why syndication often delivers better scalability, wealth creation, and lifestyle freedom than the BRRRR method.

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