The Housing Market Isn't Crashing—It's Recalibrating (St. George Data Proves It)

DESCRIPTION

What if the housing market isn't crashing—it's recalibrating? We open 2025 by putting national fear to the test against local truth in St. George, and the numbers surprised even us. Sellers are landing about 95% of their original asking price and 98% of their final list price, a signal that smart pricing and solid presentation still unlock real results—even in a market where affordability sits at a painful peak.

The Data That Matters:

This year brought 4,934 closings in the St. George MLS, but the story beneath the surface reveals why some sellers win while others stall. We contrast national headlines with hyper-local micro-markets, breaking down the $600k–$700k heart of the market and the $500k–$1M band where inventory hovers around four months—functionally balanced and quietly resilient.

Why Values Hold (Despite Record-Low Affordability):

Prices roughly doubled since 2019 while rates climbed, making the path to ownership steeper than ever. Yet values haven't collapsed. We walk through the fundamentals: limited inventory, cautious but active buyers, and a lending environment that keeps foreclosures microscopic. The twist? Buyer behavior has shifted—picky, skeptical, laser-focused on value—which is where many sellers run into trouble.

What You'll Learn:

Why sellers get 95% of asking with the right strategy

How affordability hurts buyers but stabilizes values locally

Micro-market breakdown by price band and inventory levels

Why cautious buyer behavior shapes showings and offers

The 25% first-listing failure rate and how to avoid it

Aspirational pricing vs strategic market positioning

Condition, marketing, and price as the only controllables

How to create the "auction effect" and win comparisons

Managing seller fatigue with data and smart cadence

Practical outlook and preparation checklist for 2025

The Gap Between Data and Feel:

We break down why homes that start with aspirational prices often end with weeks of silence and eventual price cuts. This isn't about guessing—it's about framing your list price to create urgency, managing the emotions that surface once your home is under the lights, and understanding that condition and price do the heavy lifting marketing can't.

Your Playbook:

If you're a first-time buyer, you'll learn how to navigate price bands, spot mispriced opportunities, and act with confidence when value appears. If you're selling, you'll get the day-one checklist that wins the comparison game before the first showing even happens.

The Bottom Line:

The market is neither crashing nor booming—it's recalibrating. Inventory is balanced, buyers are selective, and success belongs to those who align with reality rather than headlines. We share the framework that separates sellers who close in 30 days from those who chase the market down for six months.

Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!

P. 435-291-5443

E. sales@gostgeorge.com

Web: www.GoStGeorge.com

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup

FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts

🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors.

📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.

💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it!

📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate  

🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/

🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/

 🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue

[00:00:00] New Year And Local Intros

[00:05:20] Data Vs. Feel: The Big Surprise

[00:15:45] Stable Inventory And Buyer Behavior

[00:22:00] Seller Fatigue And Listing Failures

[00:25:00] Emotions, Auctions, And Getting Top Dollar