NAR Housing Wealth Update
Real estate doesn’t always get the credit it deserves as a long-term wealth-building asset—but the data makes the case. Nearly two-thirds of total U.S. household wealth is held in home equity, and home values have increased in 78 of the last 83 years. There’s a reason homeowners have 44 times the net worth of renters. Homeownership remains one of the most consistent ways Americans build wealth, and it continues to be a cornerstone of the American Dream.
According to the National Association of Realtors, over the past five years the median homeowner increased their net worth by $150,000. That means half of homeowners saw gains even larger than that—despite higher rates, inflation, and economic uncertainty during that period.
Some markets have experienced modest pullbacks recently. However, in areas like Florida and Texas, where appreciation had been especially strong, homeowner net worth is still meaningfully higher over the five-year period. In many cases, these markets are simply giving back a portion of outsized gains—not reversing the long-term trend.
Realtor.com Listing Data
Realtor.com reported that active listings declined 7% in January, though inventory remains up 10% year over year. While overall listings fell, new listings jumped 41%, a seasonal trend we typically see as agents delist homes in December and relist them in January to reset days on market.
The important takeaway is this: for active listings to decline month over month despite a surge in new listings, sales activity had to be strong. Buyers are still active, and homes are continuing to move.