With a median home price of $410,800 as of the second quarter of 2025, real estate is still out of reach for many, and for first-time buyers in particular. But on a national level, home prices have fallen slightly over the last few years, per the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, citing data from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Experts predict modest gains in the coming year, with Zillow forecasting 1.2% growth and the National Association of Realtors forecasting a 4% increase. However, prices in some cities could see prices rise much higher. That’s especially true in the northeastern and Great Lakes regions, which have seen some of the fastest growth over the past few years and have metro areas where the real estate market is still going strong.
