With over 35 years as a full-time real estate broker, I’ve watched market cycles unfold—and Late-Q3 was no exception. Nearly 20% of listings nationwide experienced price cuts, while less than 6% were delisted, signaling that most sellers opted to stay in the market and adjust their expectations instead of stepping aside. Mortgage rates made big moves: the conforming 30-year fixed started the month in the high-6% range, rose above 7% mid-month, and climbed further by month’s end. Active inventory surpassed 1.16 million homes, and the median listing price eased about 1% month-over-month to $419,300, giving buyers a bit more negotiating power. New listings slipped around 2% to about 395,000, but elevated borrowing costs meant many buyers couldn’t fully take advantage of these shifts. As we moved into Early-Q4, industry watchers paid close attention to see if challenging conditions would lead to deeper discounts, repeated price cuts, or longer selling timelines. These are the kinds of trends I track closely, always aiming to help clients navigate changing conditions with confidence.