If you’ve been wondering if buyers are still out there, the answer is simple: yes.
And not only are they out there, they’re online searching more than they have in the past two years.
Even before last week’s big mortgage rate news (rates dipped to 6.55% on August 7), Google searches for “homes for sale” were already spiking in July. In other words—buyers were getting serious before rates even shifted.
Then the kicker: right after that dip, mortgage applications jumped. And now? Rates just hit another 2025 low—6.53% as of August 13, according to Mortgage News Daily.
Translation: buyer motivation isn’t just alive… it’s speeding up.
What Google Searches Are Telling Us
Google Trends shows that “homes for sale” and “houses for sale” both hit a two-year high in July. That’s big, because buyers don’t usually start with showings or calls—they start by quietly scrolling online. And clearly, a lot of them are doing just that.
Mortgage Applications Are Rising
Fast forward to August—rates dip again, and buyers wasted no time jumping in. The MBA reports that purchase applications rose 1% from the week before and are 17% higher than the same time last year.
Bottom line: even a small drop in financing costs makes a difference, and buyers are moving quickly when it happens.
Why Sellers Should Pay Attention
More motivated buyers in the market means:
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More showings (your home gets in front of more eyes).
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More competition (and yes, that can mean stronger offers).
The market isn’t moving at 2021 speed—and honestly, that’s okay. You don’t need 15 offers to get a great outcome. You just need the right buyer. And right now, that buyer might already be out there searching.
How to Take Advantage of This Momentum
If selling has been on your mind, here are a few smart next steps:
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Get a market analysis → find out what your home could realistically sell for right now.
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Make small updates → fresh paint, decluttering, or simple fixes can go a long way.
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Dial in your marketing → professional photos, staging, and online visibility matter more than ever when buyers are actively searching.
The takeaway? Buyers are out there, they’re motivated, and they’re acting fast when they see the right home. If you want to make sure your home is part of that conversation, now’s the time to start planning. If you'd like to set a quick strategy session, book a time with me here: https://links.townsites.com/widget/bookings/intro-call-with-shell
