Zillow is changing their process. Interest rates are holding steady above 6.5%. The stock market is fluctuating. New tariffs could have a huge impact on the supply chain. No one really knows what to expect tomorrow.

All of this unpredictability wreaks havoc on the real estate market. In times of uncertainty, buyers and sellers either freeze or panic — most preferring to “wait and see” what happens. Even if we knew for sure that the market would take a hit because of tariffs or other factors, people could plan accordingly. But when the future feels unclear, the market stalls.

The election is over, so what’s next for the real estate market? Talk to any agent and they’ll tell you they had clients waiting until the election was over to make a move. Now that we know who our President will be for the next four years, will buyers come back to the market? I think this past week has shown us that they will. Whether it’s because they want to move to a different state, or finally move up in-house, we are seeing buyers start to prepare themselves to purchase in the next few months. While some will likely wait until after the holidays, the smart buyers are looking now.

With the new NAR settlement and all of the miscommunication around it, it’s no wonder that buyers are confused. We, as an industry, must do all we can to help educate the general public. Unfortunately, the unintended consequence of the ruling is that buyers now don’t know whether they should enlist a buyer’s agent when searching for a home.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard this question from Buyers and Sellers more frequently: “What does the NAR settlement mean for me?” While none of us have a crystal ball, I can share how I’ve been handling these conversations with my clients.