Realtor.com’s Best Time to Buy Report just dropped, and it’s worth paying attention to. Their 2025 analysis highlights the week of October 12–18 as a national sweet spot for buyers, with potential savings of more than $15,000 on a median-priced home. Cities like Phoenix, Denver, and Orlando are seeing clear fall advantages. But the question for locals is always the same: What does this mean for the Triangle? Our market has its own rhythm, driven by job growth, relocations, and tight housing supply. And this fall, several factors may work in buyers’ favor — especially in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, and surrounding areas.

 

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1. National Trends at a Glance

According to Realtor.com, mid-October brings three major advantages for buyers:

• More inventory: Listings up 32.6% compared to earlier in the year
• Less competition: Buyer demand down 30.6% from peak season
• Lower prices: Homes listed 3.4% below seasonal highs

More homes. Fewer buyers. Better prices. It’s a rare combination — and it doesn’t happen every fall.

 

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2. How the Triangle Stacks Up

The Triangle often reflects national patterns but adds its own twist. Zillow recently reported that new listings across the U.S. fell to record lows in August 2025. But Raleigh tells a more resilient story. Home values remain up year-over-year, and steady fall inventory continues to give local buyers room to negotiate. For broader context on our local trends, explore our Triangle Market Intelligence reports.

Inventory

While spring brings the biggest surge, fall remains surprisingly healthy. Recent seasons show that inventory stays steady through October, giving buyers more choice than expected outside the spring rush.

 

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3. Rates Are Starting to Ease

After the Federal Reserve’s September rate cut, the average 30-year mortgage dipped below 6.5% for the first time since early 2023, according to Forbes. That’s encouraging — but it doesn’t guarantee stability. Local lending expert Jon Ortiz, Success Lending, explains it clearly: “Lower rates are always good news for buyers, but they don’t always last. We’ve seen them dip after a Fed cut before and then climb right back up. The smartest approach isn’t to wait for a magic number. It’s to act when several factors line up. Right now, buyers in the Triangle have more inventory, less competition, and slightly better rates. That’s a rare combination, and it can make a real difference in affordability.” Jon has helped thousands of buyers navigate rate cycles and is available directly to MHRE clients through our partnership with Success Lending.  

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4. What This Means for Buyers

For Triangle buyers, fall 2025 offers several meaningful advantages:

• More homes to choose from
• Fewer bidding wars
• More negotiating power
• Better affordability as rates ease

This is the kind of window where well-prepared buyers often secure their best deals. To explore options and next steps, visit our Buyer Resource Page.  

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5. A Note for Sellers

Even though this report focuses on buyers, sellers have reason to pay attention. When rates ease and buyers regain confidence, showing activity increases — and motivated buyers return. Listing in the fall positions your home in front of these buyers before the slower winter months. Curious what your home is worth today? Get your free home valuation.  

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6. Why Trusted Guidance Matters

The Marti Hampton Real Estate Team brings decades of local expertise together with in-house lending support from Jon Ortiz at Success Lending. We help buyers and sellers understand the opportunity — and move with confidence.  

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Next Steps

👉 Thinking about buying? Connect with Jon Ortiz for a free pre-approval and personalized loan strategy. 👉 Considering selling? Get your free home valuation and see how the fall market could work in your favor.  

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References

• Realtor.com – Best Time to Buy Report (2025)
• Forbes – What the Fed Rate Cut Means for Mortgage Rates
• Freddie Mac – Primary Mortgage Market Survey

 

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Authority Note

With 30+ years of resale experience, more than 10,000 closings, and deep local relationships across the Triangle, Marti Hampton Real Estate offers one of the region’s most trusted systems for guiding buyers and sellers. Our structured, data-driven approach helps clients make clear, confident decisions in every market cycle.