50% Homes Lost Their Value, here is why!

Market snapshot, a sad story for equity.

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More than half of U.S. homes have lost value compared with their peak, marking the largest share of declines since 2012 and an average drawdown of about 9.7 percent from peak prices. Metro areas that surged during the pandemic — including Austin, Denver, Sacramento and San Francisco — show especially steep corrections, with Austin’s average decline near 20.5 percent versus peak and very large shares of homes now valued below their highs.

What that means for sellers

These shifts aren’t a collapse; they’re a normalization after an outsized run-up. Still, falling valuations reduce the cushion of built equity and make timing and pricing critical for anyone who must sell soon. Experts note that while relatively few homes sell at a loss, slower demand and affordability headwinds mean sellers who wait may see shrinking buyer pools and less leverage.

Practical tips to stay ahead when you need to sell

• Price ahead of the market

  • Why: When prices are moving down, listing at a realistic, competitively forward-looking price captures buyers while demand still exists.

  • How: Use recent local comps plus a small downward-adjustment buffer for current trends; set the list price to attract multiple showings quickly.

• Stage for certainty and speed

  • Why: Buyers in softer markets are pickier and risk-averse; buyers who need to move will buy confidently when a house shows move-in ready.

  • How: Invest in targeted, high-ROI fixes: deep clean, fresh paint in neutral tones, declutter, and professional photos and virtual tour.

• Market aggressively and locally

  • Why: In cooler markets, the right audience may be smaller but reachable. Amplifying exposure is essential to finding them.

  • How: Combine MLS entry with targeted social ads, neighborhood outreach, e-mail campaigns, and broker previews that highlight financing options or incentives.

• Offer buyer-friendly certainty (without eroding price)

  • Why: Reducing perceived transaction risk converts hesitant buyers.

  • How: Provide clear inspection summaries, flexible showing windows, and well-documented disclosures. Consider limited, strategic concessions (e.g., rate buydown credit or closing-cost help) tied to an otherwise firm price.

• Time showings and open houses for competitive interest

  • Why: Concentrated exposure often generates urgency and competing offers even in a softer market.

  • How: Create a 1–2 week “fresh on market” push with a clear deadline for offers and coordinated open-house events.

• Lean on local market intel, not national headlines

  • Why: National averages mask neighborhood-level microtrends; some pockets still outperform.

  • How: Review recent active-to-sold price ratios, days on market, and pending-sales trends in your zip code to calibrate strategy.

Case study — pricing ahead the Jason Henry way

Jason Henry, a Realtor serving Central Texas (Austin and San Marcos markets), consistently helps sellers close at over 98% of list price by pricing ahead of visible declines to capture remaining equity before it dissipates. His approach combines hyper-local comps, trend adjustment, and a marketing-first plan that creates early, concentrated buyer interest. The result: houses priced to reflect near-term market direction, staged and marketed to maximize perceived buyer confidence, and sold with minimal concessions — turning otherwise risky timing into measured wins for sellers.

Quick checklist before listing

• Run a 90-day local comp and pending-sales analysis.

• Set a price that anticipates short-term down-pressure (small downward buffer).

• Complete 3–5 high-impact repairs; stage and photograph professionally.

• Plan a 10–14 day marketing blitz with a clear offer deadline.

• Prepare inspection/disclosure packet to reduce buyer friction.

• Decide on concession budget ahead of time and tie it to concrete buyer needs.

Is it the end for sellers getting a fair price?

If you need to sell in today’s cooling market, the difference between walking away with equity or watching it erode often comes down to pricing, speed, and presentation. Jason Henry’s model shows that sellers who price ahead of the market and execute a focused marketing plan can still capture near-full value even as headline metrics shift. If you want a data-driven pricing roadmap for your specific Central Texas neighborhood, the next best step is to run a local comps and pending-sales audit.