The Real Estate Digest 6/2/2025

June 02, 2025

Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 2nd. 

What do agents have to be thankful for?
Lots!

In This Week’s Edition:

HOME STATUS
New Listings Drop in Clarke & Oconee

Insight: New homes in Clarke and Oconee have decreased over the past month, with closed sales up in Clarke and down in Oconee.

SPOTLIGHT
Featured Property of the Week

Welcome to 1860 Old West Broad St. This charming 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home is located in normaltown, and has a home office. This spacious 1,800+ sq ft home, built in 2005, offers an open floor plan. The bright and inviting kitchen features stainless steel appliances and flows seamlessly into the living room, which is perfect for entertaining or everyday living. The generously sized primary suite includes an ensuite bathroom with dual vanities, a soaking tub, and a walk-in closet. Enjoy outdoor living on the large back deck overlooking a privacy-fenced, and nicely landscaped backyard. Additional highlights include a spacious office, ideal for remote work or a guest space, and a large laundry room for added convenience. Don't miss this rare Normaltown find!

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 Drop in Clarke & Oconee

Insight: Athens inventory has slowed down over the past few weeks, dropping this week. Oconee inventory has dropped significantly from its previous levels over the past month.

NATIONAL
Weekly Noteworthy News

Tariff News on Real Estate

The Court of International Trade court has ruled that the executive branch cannot broadly impose tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Unless the administration successfully appeals within ten days, several major tariffs will be rolled back. These include the 10% minimum global tariff, country-specific reciprocal tariffs implemented on April 2, 25% duties on goods from Mexico and Canada that don't meet USMCA standards, and 20% tariffs on Chinese imports tied to fentanyl concerns.

This decision doesn’t affect sector-specific tariffs, such as the 25% duties on steel, aluminum, and autos, since those were enacted under separate legal authority, specifically Section 232.

Is the Trade War Ending?

Not quite. The administration has two key options to keep the tariffs in place:

  1. Pursue an appeal, which is already underway, potentially reaching the Supreme Court.

  2. Shift strategies and reimpose similar tariffs through other legal channels like Sections 232, 301, or 122, which have been used in past trade actions.

If policymakers are looking to ease tensions and limit economic fallout, this court ruling offers a natural exit point. However, that may be unlikely, as tariff revenue remains politically and fiscally appealing, especially with growing budget concerns tied to current legislation moving through Congress.

Impact on Mortgage Rates

In the short term, mortgage rates are unlikely to shift significantly, as the administration still has tools to reinstate trade barriers. But if most of the tariffs enacted since Trump took office were removed, rates could decline. The end of tariff-driven recession risks would give the Federal Reserve more flexibility to reduce interest rates, particularly as inflation trends toward the target of 2%. This could lead to a drop in mortgage rates by roughly 25 to 50 basis points.

MORTGAGE RATES
Rates Continue to Remain Under 7%

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

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