Here & Now Anytime Is now a good time to buy a house?
Sep 25, 2025
Is now the right moment to buy a house? An economist discusses the slight dip in median home prices and rising inventory, signaling potential opportunities for buyers. Meanwhile, the conversation shifts to the impact of a hefty $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which could reshape labor dynamics across tech and healthcare sectors. Additionally, in West Virginia, residents grapple with soaring electricity bills linked to outdated coal plants, exposing hidden costs and long-term contracts that burden consumers.
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Buy Only If It Fits Your Life
- Only buy when it fits your personal circumstances and you can truly afford it with a sustainable down payment.
- Treat homebuying as a life decision, not purely an investment, per Zillow's guidance.
Buyers Now Have More Options
- Housing inventory is at its highest since November 2019, giving buyers more options and bargaining power.
- Zillow reports a record share of listings with price cuts, especially in Sunbelt markets that overbuilt during the pandemic.
Affordability Gap Persists
- Median U.S. household income (~$83,000) falls well short of the income needed to afford the typical home with 20% down.
- This gap leaves broad affordability pressure even as options and rates shift.