The Oahu residential real estate market is steady but restrained, as high borrowing costs and home prices, coupled with economic uncertainty, continue to suppress buyer activity. However, low housing supply relative to buyer demand suggests the market will remain stable through the end of this year.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to take stock of the past year and reflect on your goals for 2025. While many of us will set goals for our health, career or personal lives, don’t neglect to set real estate goals for the coming year, too.

The interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 6 basis points to 6.44% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. That's the lowest rate since April 2023! Mortgage rates have been trending down since the Federal Reserve's recent indication that they are set to cut interest rates in September 2024. Falling rates are welcome news for both buyers and sellers, and create a unique window of opportunity in Hawaii's highly competitive real estate market.

You may have heard about a settlement reached with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) that affects the way people buy and sell homes in the United States. These policy changes, which are required by the settlement, took effect Saturday, August 17, 2024. Keep reading to find out how these changes will affect homebuyers and sellers going forward—here in Hawaii and across the country.