As the summer reaches its midpoint, we at EMTAR are keeping an eye on recent real estate happenings, whether that’s here in our local communities, across the great state of Tennessee, or nationwide. In this post we shine a spotlight on several trends, ideas, and tips making the rounds as the sun continues to sizzle and thunderstorms light up the afternoon skies.

Market Moves: Housing Stats Show A Slight Shift to Buyers

EMTAR partners with the Realtracs MLS to provide monthly market data for our area including Wilson, Smith, and Dekalb counties. You can find the latest statistics on this page.

Looking at June, the numbers were mixed across the three counties. From one year ago, sales were mostly flat in Wilson (-1%) while lower in Dekalb (-16%) and Smith (-15%). The median sales price was up 11% in Wilson, down 11% in Dekalb and 23% in Smith. New listings rose slightly in Wilson (3%) while declining in Dekalb (21%) and Smith (34%). Average days on market were flat in Wilson (23) and down in Dekalb (52) and Smith (51). The one metric that showed growth across the counties was housing inventory, which was up 11% in Wilson, 46% in Dekalb, and 8% in Smith.

From a national view, signs point to a slight shift toward favoring buyers. Homes are staying on the market a bit longer and sellers are receiving fewer offers. NAR reported that in June, existing-home sales decreased 5.4% compared to May, reaching an annual rate of 3.89 million units. This marks a sizable 5.4% decline from June of 2024. The national median sales price for existing homes rose to $426,900, which was a record high.

Our region, the South, experienced the largest drop in home sales at 6%. Meanwhile, inventory of existing homes increased to 1.32 million units across the nation in June. (We saw this in EMTAR’s three counties above; the Western U.S. saw the biggest overall rise.)

Summer Home Trends: Louder, Wooded, Vintage, & More

When it comes to home design styles that are getting buyers talking, Realtor magazine shared eight summer home trends compiled by Melissa Dittmann Tracey (who edits the Styled, Staged & Sold blog).

The post begins, “The home remodeling site Houzz weighed in with the home trends heating up this summer, from color-drenched palettes and wood-focused spaces, to beverage stations and more. The 2025 Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report pinpointed these trends “based on online search insights from homeowners and home design professionals.”

You can read the whole list here. In summary, the hot summer trends are: louder color schemes, wood-drenched spaces, vintage style, warm metal accents, French country, beverage stations, fun zones, and low-water landscaping.

Prepping a Home for Vacation: Secured, Efficient, & Smartly Lit

Meanwhile, many folks have taken or are preparing to take a summer vacation. An article in the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal by Ann Hoke provided nine tips for making your home safe and secure while you’re away at the beach, in the mountains, or maybe even riding in a pedal tavern through downtown Music City.

Summer getaways are exciting, she writes, “but before you throw your bags in the car and hit the road, it’s worth taking a few simple steps to make sure your home is safe, secure, and energy-efficient while you’re away. A little prep now can save you from headaches—or costly surprises—later.”

Her tips include: Don’t broadcast your absence, Pause your deliveries, Give a trusted contact a key [or garage code], Secure doors and windows, Unplug non-essential electronics, Adjust your thermostat and water heater, Light it up smartly [with timers or smart bulbs], Prep the outside too [lawn care], and Check your appliances.

From housing data to hot home trends to wise preparation for vacations, this summer continues to be an eventful one. May you and yours enjoy this warm season even as you are busy, busy, busy serving clients and making the American dream possible here in our vibrant, active real estate market.

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ 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.