That’s a Wrap on 2025 🥂

Our most-read headlines & must-know moments

December 26, 2025

#119

Welcome to the last Real Estate Roundup of 2025!

Today we’re highlighting your favorite stories, most-clicked resources, and marketing-making headlines that shaped the past year. From unexpected commission trends to interest rate relief, these stories made 2025 an interesting one—and set the stage for an even stronger 2026. 

Tap through the links below, then tell us: What do you want to see more of in 2026?

MARKETS

2025’s Most News-Worthy Headlines

  1. Prices refused to drop. Forecasters spent most of 2025 betting on flat-to-down pricing (Redfin even projected a small year-end dip), but the national median existing-home sale price kept inching higher. In December, it hit $387,725, up 1.7% year-over-year.

  2. The Fed offered rate relief. In September, October, and December the Federal Reserve lowered the interest rate by 25 basis points. That helped put a bit of downward pressure on borrowing costs, with the weekly average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropping to 6.22% last week—the lowest level in 14 months.

  3. Commissions got a boost. Welcome news for agents—while commissions were expected to decline in the new, post-NAR settlement normal, Redfin found that the average buyer’s agent commission actually grew year-over-year, from 2.36% to 2.42%. And for homes under $500K, the average commission rate was even higher in Q3, settling around 2.5%.

  4. Tariff tease. This year’s most unexpected real estate story was tariffs. In May, the US and China agreed to a 90-day tariff reduction which briefly boosted the housing market in the middle of the busy summer selling season. But because it was temporary, tariff uncertainty continued to complicate buying, selling, and investing. 

  5. Rocket was on a roll. Rocket completed its $1.75B Redfin acquisition in July and then closed its Mr. Cooper acquisition in October, effectively placing a massive bet on an integrated search, mortgage, service, refinance ecosystem. And Rocket wasn’t alone. Compass recently proposed a $4.2B acquisition of Anywhere, though that purchase is already facing serious opposition.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Our Top 5 Fan-Favorite Reads and Recs

Check out the top five most-clicked, followed, and liked content from 2025. 

  1. Tariff troubles. The five housing markets most likely to be impacted by rising tariffs. 

  2. Vacation rental advice. Avery Carl runs The Short-Term Shop—the #1 eXp team three years running. The Short-Term Shop specializes in connecting investors with local agents in more than 20 top vacation rental markets across the country, which makes Avery the expert on finding cost-smart and highly profitable short-term rentals. If you’re curious about investing in markets like Sarasota, Scottsdale, or the Cascade Mountains, or if you want to be able to give your clients the best tips on finding the right vacation property for their investment goals, this episode of Glennda’s Guru is a can’t-miss. 

  3. Say it simply. When real estate investor and business strategist Sharran Srivatsaa worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, one of the things that bothered him the most was the connection between complex, jargon-filled language and perceived status on the job. The ‘most successful’ investors in high finance lived in nuance. In real estate, he noticed agents doing the same—and missing opportunities because of it. Watch now for Sharran’s best advice on showcasing the complexity but delivering simplicity, so clients see you as an invaluable resource. 

  4. Breaking down payments. How first-time buyers actually fund their downpayment—and it’s not 20%. 

  5. Reality check. Send this to your sellers who just won’t take your advice on price 😉

LUXURY LISTINGS

5 Luxury Listings We’re Still Dreaming About

  1. Equinox House. Newly built luxury in Austin’s Zilker neighborhood spans 4,300+ square feet with skyline views and standout finishes like tadelakt plaster, Zellige tile, and Calacatta marble. Multiple terraces—including a private outdoor fireplace and a downtown-facing primary balcony—make the indoor-outdoor flow feel truly penthouse-level.

  2. Alicia Keys’ Iron Man House. Perched on the cliffs of La Jolla, this Wallace E. Cunningham-designed modernist stunner pairs floor-to-ceiling glass with uninterrupted Pacific views and an infinity pool that melts into the horizon. Inside, it blends high design with creative amenities—think a private recording studio, home theater, and a subterranean garage lounge.

  3. Triptych. This Tom Kundig-designed Lake Washington estate commands 400+ feet of flat waterfront and 3+ private acres, with steel-and-glass architecture built to frame water-and-forest panoramas. Luxe details—heated concrete floors, a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, and a private elevator—make it equal parts gallery and getaway.

  4. Oakley Haven. Set on 38 waterfront acres near Nashville, this estate delivers two private docks with river access to the Gulf—plus an FAA-registered airstrip for private arrivals. Between the Dolby-calibrated theater, event barn with guest quarters, and resort-style outdoor lineup (pool, courts, trails), it’s built for hosting at scale.

  5. Casa Zócalo. A modern Encino Hills sanctuary with sculptural stonework and expansive glass, designed to blur the line between refined interiors and resort-style outdoor living. With 8,500+ square feet, a Miele-equipped chef’s kitchen, spa-like primary suite, and a four-car garage, it’s a retreat that still keeps you minutes from Westside access.

Before we go…

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