Triangle real estate in 2025: What today's buyers want and how sellers can win
The COVID-19 pandemic housing rush may seem like it wasn't that long ago, but its influence on today's housing market lingers. As home sales soared between 2020 and 2023, sellers often received multiple offers — many significantly over asking price — which has reshaped the market today.
Yet the market isn't the same as it was during the pandemic. While the main driver of demand — the need for homes and lack of inventory — is still the lead story in the current market, some circumstances have changed.
What hasn't changed is the need for inventory. The number of homes on the market is still low. A normal market has between four to six months of inventory available for the region. Yet in May, the Triangle's inventory of homes was just under three months' supply. Still, there are more homes available on the market — currently over 10,000 homes — than there have been in the past several years. This shows things are trending toward normalization in the Triangle, albeit slowly.
With too few homes available, demand is still high, and homes stayed on the market for an average of 20 days in May. This number shows there's still high demand, and the average is expected to lower as the peak summer selling season hits.
The biggest circumstance that's changed is how sellers can remain competitive in the market. Resell homes sell fast today when sellers find ways to stand out, and when sellers understand what buyers are willing to pay for in today's market.
interactive Home Watch map.
What buyers want in a home
According to the 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyers are purchasing homes in 2025 for specific reasons. For most buyers under the age of 59, including Gen Z, millennials and Gen X, the largest reason is to own a home of their own. For older buyers, they are buying to be closer to friends and family, or to downsize.
When comparing resale versus new construction, most buyers purchased resale homes for specific reasons as well. Buyers largely view resale homes as offering a better overall value and price than new construction, and they believe these homes offer more charm and character, too. In addition, buyers were largely unwilling to make compromises on what they wanted in a home. A large driver of new construction was many buyers wanted to avoid major renovations or issues with electricity or plumbing.
Finally, data from the same NAR report shows that buyers are largely paying the asking price for homes they purchase. These homes are listed on the market for less than a month, and there hasn't been a drop in asking price to create more demand. That means sellers can get a fair price if the home is appropriately priced and ready for move-in.
If you're considering selling your home, it's important to take the time to prep a home before listing it. That means making small repairs or updates that might be considered a must-have in their new home. Buyers want homes that are in good condition, and that means taking the time to prep the home for sale. Minor tweaks and updates, painting and decluttering can go a long way toward ensuring you get the best offer for your home.
Work with an experienced real estate agent
The final key to selling is to work with an experienced real estate agent who has a solid pulse on the market. Before you hire an agent, do your research to see how experienced they are, the type of marketing they're doing and whether they are actively using social media to sell homes. Interview any agent you're considering working with to see if you click with the person. And be sure to ask for references that you can follow up with. The right agent will put you at ease through the selling process.
For example, because of the prominence of new construction in the Triangle, your agent should be able to provide creative insights on how to get competitive in a market where builders are offering incentives for purchases. An experienced agent will also be able to provide you with insights about what you may need to do to get your home prepped before it's listed.
Finally, a good agent will know how to price your home to sell, so that when it hits the market, it is attractive to potential buyers. And the right agent will have marketing recommendations in place, which should include a digital marketing strategy. The NAR report shows that digital methods such as websites, virtual tours, social media and digital ads are the most popular methods for searching for a new home. Your agent should have a plan for marketing your home within the digital landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business of Fashion
an hour ago
- Business of Fashion
The Jewellery Boom, Explained
Listen to and follow 'The Debrief': Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Background: As major luxury brands struggle to maintain momentum amid an industry-wide slowdown, one category is bucking the trend: jewellery. While demand for handbags and apparel softens, fine jewellery sales continue to rise, driven by consumer desire for lasting value, emotional resonance and self-expression. Simone Stern Carbone and Joan Kennedy join The Debrief to discuss how independent jewellers are thriving with creativity and personality, the rising popularity of novelty pieces, and why jewellery is uniquely positioned to attract buyers in today's luxury market. Key Insights: Despite slowing luxury sales, jewellery sales have continued to boom. As Stern Carbone notes, consumers perceive luxury jewellery as an inherently safer investment. She says, 'Instinctively, a lot of people associate jewellery – especially if it's got gold, gemstones or diamonds – with something you would dish out more money for more readily than for a handbag potentially made out of nylon.' While big jewellery brands are growing, smaller competitors are booming as they foster deep customer relationships and maintain flexible, manageable supply chains. Stern-Carbone highlights, 'Jewellery is so personal. When you have a very distinct aesthetic, you really connect with your customers long term, potentially for life. This is a really personal relationship that smaller brands can capitalise on.' Kennedy emphasises that modern jewellery marketing resonates by being accessible and relatable. 'One designer I spoke to puts her charm necklaces next to candy necklaces, so that feels fun,' she says. 'A lot of these designers are doing things that are very lo-fi. It's like a picture of a wrist on Instagram. And then they reply to DMs, like, 'Hey, show me that bracelet with something else.' So the way that they present it is also really relevant to shoppers, versus the very high-gloss and traditional style of high jewellery.' Novelty jewellery began gaining popularity post-Covid. 'People were buying camp jewellery, but they were paying $50 for a funky, colourful ring. And then more recently, people are like, okay, let's bring in the value piece of this,' says Kennedy. Novelty jewellery has surged as consumers seek personal expression in response to uniform dressing and quiet luxury trends. Kennedy continues, 'You're leaning into things that are uniform dressing, so how do we spice that up? Let's go for more novelty in jewellery.' Additional Resources:
Business Wire
an hour ago
- Business Wire
Moelis Appoints Thorold Barker as an Independent Member to its Board of Directors
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Moelis & Company (NYSE: MC), a leading global independent investment bank, today announced the appointment of Thorold Barker to its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2025. Mr. Barker brings over 30 years of experience across journalism, finance, and geopolitics. He most recently served as The Wall Street Journal's Editor for Europe, Middle East and Africa for 10 years, during the European debt crisis, Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Mr. Barker was also the Masthead Editor overseeing the Journal's global events, including the CEO Council. Mr. Barker joined the paper in New York in 2008, as Editor of Heard on the Street, the publication's commentary and analysis column covering business and finance. Earlier in his career, Mr. Barker was the U.S. Editor of the Lex Column and a reporter at the Financial Times. He started his career as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. Ken Moelis, Chairman and CEO of Moelis & Company commented, 'Thorold brings a unique perspective shaped by his global experience across business, media, and policy, which makes him a valuable addition to our Board. We are delighted to welcome him.' Mr. Barker will join Moelis's Board as an Independent Director, serving alongside Dr. Louise Mirrer, Kenneth Shropshire, and Laila Worrell. Mr. Barker is currently a Senior Adviser at AlixPartners, serves as a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford, and sits on the board of Tiger21. He holds a degree in Modern Languages from Trinity College, Cambridge. About Moelis & Company Moelis & Company ('Moelis') is a leading global independent investment bank that provides innovative strategic advice and solutions to a diverse client base, including corporations, governments and financial sponsors. The Firm assists its clients in achieving their strategic goals by offering comprehensive integrated financial advisory services across all major industry sectors. Moelis's experienced professionals advise clients on their most critical decisions, including mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. The Firm serves clients from locations across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. For further information, please visit:
Business Wire
an hour ago
- Business Wire
Egan-Jones Supports Case for Urgent Board Renewal at Brookdale Senior Living Inc. and Recommends a Vote
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ortelius Advisors, L.P. ('Ortelius') today announced that independent proxy advisory firm, Egan-Jones Ratings Company ('Egan-Jones'), has recommended that stockholders vote FOR the election of all six Ortelius nominees to the Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) ('Brookdale' or 'Company') Board of Directors, on the WHITE Ortelius proxy card, at the upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The recommendation from Egan-Jones builds on supportive commentary already published by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ('ISS') regarding Ortelius' campaign for change at Brookdale. Peter DeSorcy, Managing Member of Ortelius, said: 'Egan-Jones has provided another critical, independent, and credible voice to the chorus advocating for urgent change at Brookdale. We appreciate the clarity of their recommendation to vote for ALL six of Ortelius' highly qualified nominees to unlock the significant value within Brookdale and end the history of underperformance. As recognized by both Egan-Jones and ISS, a refreshed Board possessing the right skills and expertise is essential to rapidly advance a meaningful turnaround at Brookdale. This includes leading the process of selecting a new and highly qualified CEO, as well as moving quickly to sell underperforming assets and unlock long-term value for stockholders. With the support of two independent proxy advisory firms, we urge our fellow Brookdale stockholders to vote FOR all six of the Ortelius nominees on the WHITE proxy card.' In its report finding that Ortelius has presented a compelling case for change at Brookdale, Egan-Jones*: Recognized the distinct and unique nature of Ortelius' strategy and confirmed the need for significant Board renewal to drive change: 'We believe that the current management and the Ortelius nominees propose strategies that are diametrically opposed to each other: management is determined that they will be able to grow out of their debt – something that seems unlikely given multiple years in a row of extremely low operating margins. On the other hand, Ortelius believes underperforming assets must be sold off to pay down debt and improve operating margins. We strongly believe that, to effectively execute a meaningful turnaround and unlock long-term value for shareholders, the full slate of Ortelius nominees should be elected.' Validated Ortelius' criticisms about Brookdale's operating performance and Total Shareholder Return ('TSR'): 'The Company has not been able to recover after COVID, with the TSR from the beginning of 2020 through the end of 2024 sitting at -30%. Despite strong industry tailwinds, such as rising occupancy in senior housing and increasing demand due to changing demographics, BKD's TSR has remained stagnant. We believe that the Company's inability to capitalize on these market opportunities demonstrates the need to re-evaluate its current strategy.' Concluded Brookdale has clearly underperformed its peers and faces an unsustainable debt burden which requires urgent action: ' [Brookdale]... has greatly underperformed NHC as well as the total market. Additionally, it is worth noting that BKD has not been able to recover to pre-covid returns but are instead down 30% over the 5-year period.' 'Given the company's inability to recover from COVID and their lagging occupancy rates compared to nationwide averages, we do not believe the Company will be able to grow itself out of debt.' Supported Ortelius' assertion that Management's strategy is insufficient and unlikely to restore profitability at Brookdale: 'The Company's financial performance presents significant concerns, primarily due to high leverage and poor operational efficiency. With debt-to-enterprise value ratios consistently average over 90% over the past five years, BKD is heavily reliant on debt. Revenue growth is being offset by the Company's persistently low operating margin. In our view, the Company's weak balance sheet limits its financial flexibility and means to restore profitability.' Confirmed that Ortelius' plan to sell underperforming properties is well conceived and viable: 'The Company believes it will be able to grow its way out of debt. Divesting non-core assets does not appear to be an option under the current board and management. In our view, their optimism about improving BKD's average occupancy rate comes too late, especially considering the excessive cash burn and mounting debt. We believe the Ortelius nominees are correct that assets will need to be sold off to generate cash, to pay off debt, invest in improved facilities, and re-align its strategy as a pure play company.' Endorsed all six Ortelius nominees for their specific expertise and capacity to efficiently execute a turnaround at Brookdale: 'After reviewing available public information and engaging with both Brookdale's management team and Ortelius, Egan-Jones recommends shareholders vote FOR all six Ortelius nominees: Steven J. Insoft, Paula J. Poskon, Frank J. Small, Ivona Smith, Steven L. Vick, and Lori B. Wittman.' 'Ortelius' slate brings the right mix of skills and expertise across senior housing, REITs, finance, capital markets, and operational turnarounds.' 'We recommend shareholders vote FOR all six Ortelius nominees as they bring a viable strategy to a struggling company.' Recommended 'Withhold' votes on long tenured Brookdale directors while only supporting the most recent additions to the incumbent Board: 'We recommend that shareholders vote FOR incumbent nominees Fioravanti and Hausman, as they are the most recent additions to the board, having joined in April of 2025, and we therefore do not hold them accountable for the Company's missteps.' Your vote is important, no matter how many or how few shares of common stock you own. Ortelius urges you to sign, date, and return the WHITE universal proxy card today to vote 'FOR' the election of all six Ortelius nominees and in accordance with Ortelius' recommendations on the other proposals on the agenda for the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who have questions or require assistance in voting their WHITE Proxy Card, or those who require copies of Ortelius' proxy materials, should contact: Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC at (888) 368-0379 or info@ *Permission to use quotations from the Egan-Jones report was neither sought nor obtained. Additional Information Ortelius Advisors, L.P., together with the other participants in its proxy solicitation (collectively, 'Ortelius'), has filed a definitive proxy statement and accompanying WHITE universal proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') to be used to solicit votes for the election of Ortelius' slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the 'Annual Meeting') of Brookdale Senior Living Inc., a Delaware corporation (the 'Company'). Stockholders are advised to read the proxy statement and any other documents related to the solicitation of stockholders of the Company in connection with the Annual Meeting because they contain important information, including information relating to the participants in Ortelius' proxy solicitation. These materials and other materials filed by Ortelius with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies are available at no charge on the SEC's website at The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed by Ortelius with the SEC are also available, without charge, by directing a request to Ortelius' proxy solicitor, Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC, at its toll-free number (888) 368-0379 or via email at info@ Ortelius is a research-intensive, fundamental-based, activist-oriented alternative investment management firm focused on event-driven opportunities.
