🏡 Why Aren’t Homes Selling? A Neighborly Breakdown of Today’s Housing Market

Jun 12

Lately, many of us have noticed more For Sale signs lingering in yards across San Antonio, Boerne, and Fair Oaks Ranch. Homes that used to sell in a matter of weeks are now sitting... sometimes for months. If your house is currently on the market and you’re feeling frustrated, you're not alone—and it’s not your fault.

This market is unlike anything we’ve seen in years. But by understanding the deeper shifts—and how to adapt—you can better position your home for success.

🔍 1. Price Filters Are Hiding Your Home From View

Most buyers are shopping online these days, using filters that slice and dice listings by price brackets. That means if your home is listed at $655,000, and a buyer’s budget tops out at $650,000, they won’t even see your listing.

📱 This small pricing mismatch can render your home invisible—regardless of how great it is.

📌 Neighborly Tip: Try pricing your home just under major bracket thresholds (e.g., $649,900 instead of $655,000) to appear in more search results.

📉 2. The Market Determines Value—Not Sentiment

It’s natural to feel your home is “worth” a certain amount, especially if you’ve invested in upgrades. But buyers—and their lenders—rely on comparable sales to determine market value.

💡 If the buyer is using financing (which most are), the home must appraise. A low appraisal can derail a deal, wasting weeks of effort.

📌 Neighborly Tip: Look at what similar homes nearby have actually sold for in the last 90–180 days—not just what they’re listed for now.

🏘️ 3. Being the Largest or Nicest on the Block Can Backfire

If your home is the biggest or most updated in the neighborhood, that can be a challenge. Appraisers and buyers will still base their expectations on the median value of your area. A stunning 7,200 sq.ft. home surrounded by 3,500 sq.ft. neighbors? The larger home may not fetch what its features alone suggest.

📈 4. Homes Are Sitting Longer, Selling for Less

This isn’t speculation—it’s the data.

📊 Average Days on Market – Greater San Antonio Area

From 48 days in Jan 2023 to 80 days in June 2024, the timeline to sell a home has expanded considerably:

💰 List-to-Sale Price Ratio

Sellers used to get nearly full price. Not anymore. Today, homes in our area are selling for just 93.6% of their asking price, on average:

What does that mean? A home listed at $700,000 is likely to sell closer to $655,000 or lower in the current market.

🏗️ 5. Builders Are Offering Deals Traditional Sellers Can’t Match

Homebuilders are:

Dropping prices below resale home values
Offering closing cost incentives of $20K+
Locking in mortgage rates as low as 4.99%

📉 That’s significantly below the current 7%+ rates on the open market. Many buyers are opting for new construction simply because it’s more affordable to finance.

📉 6. Mortgage Rates Have Frozen Local Move-Up Buyers

With current mortgage rates hovering around 7%, many homeowners who locked in rates at 3% or 4% are staying put. The idea of trading up comes with a financial penalty—and it’s sidelining a large portion of potential buyers in our local area.

Fewer buyers = more inventory = longer time to sell.

✈️ 7. The Buyers Are Still Out There—Just Not From Around Here

While local buyers are cautious, out-of-state buyers are still coming to Texas—many with cash and urgency:

🏙️ Where they're coming from:

California (especially Bay Area & SoCal)
Chicago
New York & New Jersey

💸 Why they’re buying:

They’ve sold homes with massive equity
They’re cash-ready and immune to high interest rates
They want more space, lower taxes, and a better quality of life

These are buyers who need to see more than your house—they need to fall in love with your entire community.

🌟 8. You’re Not Just Selling a Home—You’re Selling a Lifestyle

Here’s the truth: most people shopping from out of state have never heard of Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, or even San Antonio’s suburban neighborhoods.

🏞️ That means your listing must do more than just show square footage. It has to tell a story.

🎥 📸 A well-crafted listing should showcase:

A walk-through video of the home 🏡
Aerial drone shots of the neighborhood 🚁
Proximity to walking trails, restaurants, schools, and shopping 🛍️
Photos of downtown charm, parks, markets, and seasonal events 🎡

You're not just offering a house. You're offering:

Safe neighborhoods
Award-winning schools
A peaceful way of life
Community events and local charm

💬 Final Thoughts From a Neighbor Who Cares

It’s tough out there. Many homes—especially great ones—are taking longer to sell than they should. That doesn’t mean your home isn’t valuable. It just means that the market has changed—and it requires a new approach.

In today’s environment, traditional real estate marketing won’t cut it. Homes that sell now are those that are priced smart, presented beautifully, and promoted widely to the right audiences—including those far outside our local ZIP codes.

🔑 The good news? With the right preparation and community storytelling, your home can stand out—and attract the right buyer.

If you'd like, I can point you toward local resources and professionals who specialize in multimedia listings and wider buyer outreach—just send a message or reply to this post. We're all neighbors here.