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The April housing update is here. For-sale inventory, rents and more. Read it below🏡

🚨 Do homes in the US still sell faster than they did before the pandemic? Across the United States, nearly 1 in 5 homes for sale went pending within a week. And that’s not much different from 2019, before the pandemic, when about 18% of listings sold within a week. So if homes are still selling that fast, why are existing-home sales still well below pre-pandemic levels? Because you can’t buy what isn’t for sale. Existing-home sales are running about 21-24% below pre-pandemic levels. That should not be too surprising because the total number of homes for sale is also about 20% below pre-pandemic levels. The flow of homes that enters the for-sale market each month is also down 22% when compared to before the pandemic. The number of homes for sale as a share of owner-occupied housing has declined because homeowners are staying in their homes longer. The pandemic-era frenzy is behind us, but well-priced homes are still moving quickly. There just aren’t enough homes on the market to meaningfully lift total sales. Yes - affordability is a challenge for potential first-time buyers, but the market isn’t frozen because demand disappeared. It’s mostly constrained because supply did. Sign up for more housing updates: https://lnkd.in/eaqs4xYU Check out where homes are still selling fast! The full note in the comments.

Gary Keller has worked alongside agents for nearly 50 years, building a real estate company hundreds of thousands agents strong. When he says the open marketplace is what's best for sellers, that's experience and expertise talking. In a new op-ed, he makes a case we've long believed in: hiding listings hurts sellers, damages trust, wrecks the marketplace and erodes the principles of the industry. "The market doesn't reward potential. It rewards participation." The more buyers who can see a home, the more the market can do its job. That's not a radical idea. It's how real estate is supposed to work. And it's why we built Zillow Preview — to make sure more buyers can see more homes, sooner. Read more from Gary Keller: https://lnkd.in/e4ApWDP2

Gone in 7 days or sitting for months? New Zillow data shows the housing market is settling back into more familiar, pre-pandemic patterns. A third of homes are selling within a week in the fastest markets. Homes that sell that quickly are more than twice as likely to sell above asking price. Yet the median active listing has been sitting for 56 days. Affordability pressures have narrowed the pool of buyers, concentrating the most intense competition on listings that check every box ✅ New Zillow research unpacks what that means for buyers and sellers today, with Senior Economist Orphe Divounguy breaking it down 👆 Check out the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/g7cxqtjw Learn more about Zillow Preview at the link in the comments. #ZillowResearch #HousingMarket #RealEstate

What’s really happening in the 2026 housing market? 🏡 Turnkey homes are in high demand. Buyers are gravitating toward move-in ready homes, so clearly highlighting that in a listing can help drive more interest. Early signals suggest this spring is shaping up to be more active than last year. More homes are hitting the market, meaning sellers need to nail their pricing and marketing strategy to stand out, even as demand picks up. In a more competitive market, getting an early read on pricing strategy matters. Tools like Zillow Preview help sellers test the waters, gauge demand and refine their approach before going fully live. Zillow’s Home Trends Expert Amanda Pendleton joined RealWealth to break down these trends and more. Learn more about Zillow Preview: https://lnkd.in/g3g_fGWc #ZillowResearch #HousingMarket #RealEstate

With income growth outpacing rent increases, the typical renter now has an extra $2,318 a year back in their pocket. What does this mean? Affordability challenges aren’t gone, but renters are finally getting some breathing room and options. This moment of relief is meaningful. In many markets, they’re also seeing more negotiating power as supply improves and concessions become more common. More from Zillow’s March Rental Report: https://lnkd.in/gGhBjx5i Curious how these savings could add up toward a down payment? Check out the link in the comments. #ZillowResearch #Rent #RealEstate

With the autonomy to explore ideas, take risks, and lead with curiosity, Zillow’s product designers don’t just contribute, they shape what we build. They explore. They question. They take smart risks. That’s how we move forward.

Kacey Musgraves grew up in a small town in East Texas. The home has been in her family for over a hundred years. After the death of her grandmother, she was able to save it from being sold — and painted it pastel pink in her honor. Years later, she returned. With keys to the front door. A self-described late-night Zillow scroller, Kacey has always used the platform to imagine, browse and dream. Now her childhood home is on it, with photos, a 3D tour and album clues woven throughout, ahead of her new album “Middle of Nowhere,” out May 1. Check out the listing here: https://lnkd.in/esDa9UWE Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezd9Y5Qf

In 1938, the Federal Housing Administration published an underwriting manual that guided how neighborhoods were evaluated and which mortgages would be backed by the federal government. Those standards shaped where money flowed. And where money flowed, homes were built. And where homes were built, wealth was created. The language in that manual made something very clear. This is a true story in American history:

People seldom find success by following a linear career path, says Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman. In Wacksman’s view, most people would benefit more from taking unexpected jobs or out-of-wheelhouse projects, rather than tying themselves to a strict, linear career path and never deviating. Let yourself pursue a path more akin to a “career jungle gym,” he tells CNBC Make It. You can take a non-linear career path without leaving your industry, or even your company, he says. More on Wacksman’s career tips: cnb.cx/3OI1tNS