As we prepare to celebrate Christmas and enter the heart of the holiday season this coming week, we’re keeping one eye out for Santa and the other eye on real estate industry and market trends that continue to unfold as the end of 2024 draws nigh.

Some of these will continue into 2025, perhaps becoming part of the real estate forecasts for the coming year that we wrote about in this recent blog. Others may fade over time, but for now they are worthy of a thoughtful look.

Here are just a few of those trending items we’ve noticed in the news:

1. You’re warm, you’re warm, you’re still warm: Mortgage Demand

HousingWire reports that “Mortgage demand for new homes is slowing, but the market is still warm.” Also, “FHA loans accounted for 28% of applications, a figure that the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says is indicative of first-time homebuyer demand.”
>> Read the full story here.

 2. Hocus Focus: Priorities for 2025

Blogger and commercial real estate specialist Jana Truman shares “Five Key Priorities for Real Estate Agents in the First Quarter of 2025.” They are: Prepare for a Thriving Market, Anticipate Mortgage Rate Changes [see our item just above for more about that], Address Housing Affordability Challenges, Utilize Technology for Competitive Advantage, and Monitor Regional Market Trends.
>> Read more details here.

3. All Sizzle, No Fizzle: Piping-Hot Housing Markets

NAR just released its report of the Top 10 Housing Hot Spots for 2025, and they show the continued vitality of home sales in the South, including here in the great state of Tennessee.
>> Read about the list here.

4. And Justice for All?

On the legal front, Real Estate News addresses another important topic: “The Ten: The DOJ, industry bogeyman.” Dave Gallagher writes, “The Justice Department was a constant presence in 2024—weighing in on civil cases, questioning buyer agreements and fighting NAR in the Supreme Court.”
>> Read more here.

5. Honey, I Shrunk the Household

And finally, Realtor.com covers a home trend that could play a role in our members’ work with buyers and sellers in 2025 and beyond: “America’s Households Are Shrinking, Ushering in the ‘Golden Age’ of Guest Bedrooms.”

According to writer Keith Griffith, “families across the country are preparing to play host for the holidays, and many will have plenty of room to spare for guests. Both the total number of guest bedrooms in America and the share of homes with guest bedrooms are at record highs, according to a new analysis from the Realtor.com^® economic research team. Last year, the total number of extra bedrooms in the U.S. reached 31.9 million, up from 31.3 million the year prior and over four times the 7 million in 1980.
>> Read more here.

We could go on, but we’ve got to run and get the cookies and milk ready for Santa, baby.

EMTAR members, we are honored to serve as your partner in success, and we appreciate the difference you make for your clients, your fellow REALTORS^®, and our community. Here’s hoping you and your loved ones will enjoy a blessed holiday and a joyous end of the year!

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,300+ REALTORS^® are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS^® and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.