Is the Spring Market Heating Up or Cooling Off? A Look at 2025 Trends

Introduction: Why Spring Still Matters

Spring has traditionally been the busiest season in real estate—buyers emerge from winter, listings rise, and transactions spike. But in 2025, the market feels different. With elevated mortgage rates and a wave of economic uncertainty, the usual spring buzz is giving way to a more cautious pace.

So, is the spring market heating up or cooling off? Let’s take a look.

National Snapshot: Mixed Signals

Across the U.S., housing trends this spring show both opportunity and hesitation.

• Inventory is up: Housing inventory rose 30.6% year-over-year in April, marking the 18th consecutive month of growth.
  ➤ Source: Realtor.com April 2025 Report

• Buyer activity is cautious: NPR reports that despite more homes hitting the market, high prices and mortgage rates are still keeping many buyers on the sidelines.
  ➤ Source: NPR – Spring Homebuying

• Mortgage rates stabilizing: Average mortgage rates have hovered around 6.6%, allowing some predictability for buyers.
  ➤ Source: WSJ/Realtor.com Market Ranking

Columbus Market Check-In

Locally, Columbus is following some national trends—particularly in inventory and pace.

• Inventory: March 2025 saw a 32% increase in homes for sale compared to March 2024. This is the highest number of new listings for any March since 2022. ➤ Source: Columbus REALTORS® March Report

• Days on market: Homes are taking longer to sell—average market time rose to 43 days, up from 34 days last year. That’s a sign of more buyer deliberation.

• Pricing: The median sale price increased to $320,000, but homes sold at 99% of list price, showing that while demand is steady, buyers aren’t paying premiums.

What It Means for Buyers

• More choice: Inventory is improving, giving buyers more breathing room.

• Negotiation leverage: With homes staying on the market longer, buyers may have more room to negotiate on price or terms.

• Affordability remains a challenge: Even with more homes available, prices and mortgage rates remain elevated.

What It Means for Sellers

• Longer market times: Be prepared for homes to sit longer—average DOM is increasing.

• Pricing matters: Sellers should price realistically and prepare homes thoroughly.

• Still a seller’s market: With only 1.5 months of inventory, well-positioned homes are still moving, especially under the median price point.

Conclusion: A Market in Waiting

The spring 2025 market is not crashing—but it’s not surging either. Economic uncertainty is the key reason we’re seeing a slower spring. While inventory has grown, we are still firmly in a seller’s market with just 1.5 months of supply in Columbus.

If the broader economy stabilizes—and especially if rates come down even slightly—the pace could pick up quickly. For now, both buyers and sellers are watching closely.

📩 Thinking about making a move this spring? I’m happy to help you understand your options and timing.