Why new-home prices are falling in summer 2025 – and where buyers can find deals now

Yahoo

16-07-2025

Why new-home prices are falling in summer 2025 – and where buyers can find deals now
For home shoppers holding out for better prices, now might be the time to start looking.
Prices in many of the country's most popular markets — including markets in Florida, California, and Texas — have fallen significantly, reports NewHomeSource.
'New-home prices can come down for one of two reasons,' says Ali Wolf, chief economist for NewHomeSource.
See More: The 2025 housing market: What it means for new home buyers
Reason one : A builder begins building communities further away from city centers. "Those shifts alone could lower prices without home prices actually falling," said Wolf.
Reason two : Market response.
'If affordability gets stretched too much or consumer confidence weakens and buyer demand slows, home prices can come down as builders try to 'find the market,'' Wolf says.
See More: Here's how U.S. tariffs may affect home prices in 2025
What's Happening with the New Home Market in 2025
According to April 2025 data from Zonda, several markets have seen prices fall considerably from their recent peaks, opening the door for:
More affordability/greater buying power
Better deals
Builder incentives
While homes in many markets remain expensive, the recent drops signal a fundamental shift in buyer leverage.
'You will find some good value in the new home market today, especially compared to resale properties,' said Wolf.
The latest data reveals several trends and patterns emerging related to pricing in the new-home market:
Florida's Price Declines: In 50 metros analyzed by Zonda, five of the top 10 markets with the biggest price drops were in Florida:
Jacksonville (-22.3%)
Naples (-21.9%)
North Port (-19.2%)
Cape Coral (-14.2%)
Miami (-13.7%)
San Francisco's Double Dip: New-home prices in San Francisco were 18.2% below their peak of approximately $1.2 million. It was also the lone market where April 2025 prices were below 20219 levels (down 15.1%).
Cooling Pandemic Hotspots: Salt Lake City (-15.4%) and Austin (-14.2%), which had significant booms in the pandemic, saw prices fall well below their peaks.
At the Peak: Philadelphia, San Jose, and Port St. Lucie were the only markets analyzed to reach a new pricing peak in April.
San Jose also earned the distinction as the most expensive market analyzed, with an average new-home price of $1.8 million.
Nearing the Top: Home prices in Orlando, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Nashville, and Los Angeles were all within 3% of the peak in April.
See More: Creative ways first-time buyers are securing homes in 2025
What Does This Mean for You?
The declines in prices mean that markets that may have felt out of reach for would-be buyers are now more accessible. At the very least, these markets now come with better terms.
Bottom line: For shoppers who have been on the fence, now may be the time to revisit areas they were previously priced out of and take advantage of builder incentives.
That said, urgency matters; these lower prices may not last. As the market adjusts, today's opportunities could turn into tomorrow's regrets.
NewHomeSource is a platform for new home listings with homebuilder reviews.
This story was produced by NewHomeSource and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.