In Spain, Spaniards are shooting water pistols at foreigners to protest the impact of mass tourism: it has created a housing crunch. Tourism in the United States is down considerably, especially from Canada, impacting the economy here on Oahu and in other locations. But in the U.S. the inventory of properties for sale is increasing, and the market has turned for buyers at the expense of sellers. New listings rose 5.2 percent YOY, active inventory is up almost 28 percent year-over-year, days on the market have increased by 6 days, but home prices are essentially flat. Sellers at the lower end aren’t budging… yet. At the higher end, LOs tell me that the market feels “heavy.” (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by TRUE. TRUE cuts time to critical loan events from days to minutes by using background AI workers to instantly validate data and automate underwriting decisions. Today’s has an interview with SALT Lending’s Shawn Owen on how digital assets like Bitcoin are reshaping mortgage lending, from collateral risk and fraud prevention to construction financing, regulatory hurdles, and the future of tokenized mortgage markets.) Products, Software, and Services for Brokers and Lenders “Is your loan servicing operation overwhelmed by fragmented and manual processes, inconsistent action handling, or compliance blind spots? In our latest blog, ‘From Chaos to Clarity: How Workflow Transforms Loan Servicing Operations,’ we explore how intelligent automation can help you streamline and automate complexity, improve compliance, and respond faster to borrower needs. Discover six powerful ways workflow enhances standardization, efficiency, visibility, accountability, data use, and the user experience—each brought to life through real-world servicing scenarios. Learn how organizations like yours are eliminating manual errors, accelerating response times, and simplifying complex decisioning with intelligent workflow automation. If you’re looking to reduce the risk and costs of single-point solutions, improve consistency, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry, this blog is a must-read. See how organizations are achieving these outcomes with the help of a flexible, proven solution like CLARIFIRE®.”

* **Inventory:** Increased significantly in many Florida markets compared to 2022/early 2023, offering more buyer choice. Some areas are experiencing a surplus.
* **Interest Rates:** Elevated mortgage rates (fluctuating around 6-7% as of late 2023/early 2024) are impacting affordability and buyer demand.
* **Price Appreciation:** Slower appreciation compared to the peak boom years. Some markets are experiencing price corrections or stabilization. Appreciation varies widely by location.
* **Days on Market:** Increased. Homes are taking longer to sell compared to the rapid sales seen previously.
* **Sales Volume:** Decreased. Fewer homes are being sold compared to the peak of the market.
* **Cash Buyers:** Still prevalent, especially in luxury markets. Florida continues to attract out-of-state buyers with cash.
* **Insurance Costs:** Rising insurance premiums are a significant concern for Florida homeowners, impacting affordability and property values, especially in coastal areas.
* **Property Taxes:** Continue to rise, adding to the overall cost of homeownership.
* **Migration:** While still positive overall, migration patterns may be shifting due to factors like affordability and remote work trends in other states.