Still Frozen: Why Home Sales Aren’t Heating Up Yet
- Neil Caron
- Nov 14, 2025
- 2 min read
November 14th, 2025 | Market Insights | Presented by ReadySetLoan™️
The U.S. housing market has been stuck in a deep freeze — with high mortgage rates, affordability pressure, and sellers reluctant to let go of low-rate homes. While there are signs of softening (more listings, slightly better sentiment), the thaw is slow and incomplete. Buyers are cautious, sellers remain hesitant, and the rebound hasn’t gained enough heat yet.
What’s really keeping the market frozen
Even with momentum building, several forces are still holding the back-and-forth market in place:
High borrowing costs remain a major barrier. Mortgage rates, though lower than earlier peaks, are still elevated enough to put payments out of reach for many buyers.
Sellers locked in. Homeowners with low long-term rates aren’t motivated to sell and give up those favorable terms, slowing inventory turnover.
Economic uncertainty. Weak job growth and inflation concerns are weighing on consumer confidence and slowing new household formation.
Construction & cost headwinds. Builders face rising costs on materials and labor, delaying new home production and keeping supply tight.
The Connecticut perspective
Buyers and homeowners in Connecticut feel these dynamics especially sharply:
Thin affordability margin. With local property taxes, insurance, and higher housing prices, even modest rate improvements may not be enough to push many buyers over the the threshold of feasibility.
Inventory constraints linger. Even as some sellers list homes, many remain reluctant to move, especially those with favorable rates or equity built up over time.
Tactical advantage for prepared buyers. Those who are pre-approved, prepared to move quickly, or open to new construction options may find opportunities before the market fully thaws.
Refinance & equity potential. Homeowners with equity and fixed-rate mortgages might be positioned to refinance or extract value — even in a slow market — to capture more flexibility.
🐷 RSL Piggy Points
Housing market is thawing slowly — momentum is there but not yet strong enough to trigger a full rebound.
Mortgage rates remain a high barrier even as they fall.
Sellers with low rate loans are holding on, limiting inventory turnover.
Local costs in Connecticut amplify market friction.
Prepared buyers and homeowners with equity have the potential to act early.
Neil’s Take 🎤
“A slow thaw is better than no thaw, but in markets like Connecticut, you need more than just warming rates — you need to be ready with pre-approval, contingency options, and a strategy that accounts for high local costs. Markets move slowly now; the prepared are those who benefit.”— Neil Caron, Area Manager at CMG Mortgage
🐽 Snout-Out: The RSL PerspectiveAt ReadySetLoan™️, we see thawing signs — but not a full market revival yet. For Connecticut buyers, that means opportunities exist, but caution is still warranted. Whether you’re buying or refinancing, being pre-approved, flexible, and data-driven gives you the edge during this gradual transition. Markets don’t unfreeze overnight — but with the right plan, you can take advantage of the softening before the next wave of competition arrives.
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