Learn how to navigate the 2025 housing market with tips for buyers and sellers facing high rates, prices and tight inventory.

What steps can you take to buy a home in a high-rate market? How can you prepare your home to sell for the best price? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how buyers and sellers can navigate the 2025 housing market despite high rates, tight inventory and rising home prices. NerdWallet mortgage reporter Holden Lewis joins the episode to share tips for buyers, including how to get pre-approved for a mortgage, the importance of budgeting for rising homeowners insurance premiums, and why timing the market is risky. He also shares smart strategies for sellers, including the value of curb appeal, documenting recent repairs, and how professional staging and photography can make a home stand out. Plus: Learn about broader housing trends, like the impact of "rate lock-in" on inventory, the connection between Federal Reserve policies and mortgage rates, and how changes to real estate agent commission rules are affecting buyers. 

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: housing market 2025, home buying tips, selling a house, mortgage rates 2025, real estate trends, rate lock-in, pre-approval mortgage, homeowners insurance costs, house affordability, first-time homebuyers, housing inventory shortage, real estate commissions, Fed and mortgage rates, buying a house in high rates, preparing to sell a home, home staging tips, home prices, real estate commission changes, real estate agent fees, home selling strategies, 2025 real estate forecast, Zillow stalking, housing market challenges, tips for house hunters, real estate market tips, and real estate pricing trends.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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