Buyers Are Quietly Searching (& Rates Just Sweetened the Deal)

Buyers Are Still Out There (and They’re Serious!)

If you’ve been wondering if buyers are still shopping—spoiler alert: they are.
And right now, they’re searching online more than they have in the past two years.

Even before last week’s big mortgage rate news (yes, rates dipped to 6.55% on August 7), online searches for “homes for sale” were already climbing. Translation: buyers were getting serious before the rate drop even happened.

And then? Mortgage applications popped up right after the dip.

Now, rates just dropped again—to 6.53% on August 13, the lowest we’ve seen in 2025 so far. Motivation isn’t just alive—it’s gaining speed.

What Google Searches Tell Us

Google Trends is a little like peeking behind the curtain at buyer behavior.
In July, “homes for sale” and “houses for sale” both hit a two-year high—back when rates were still in the upper 6s.

That’s huge. Why? Because before buyers ever set up a showing or call an agent, they start by quietly browsing online. When searches go up, it’s the first sign that demand is building.

Mortgage Applications Are Climbing

Fast forward to August: rates dipped, and buyers wasted no time jumping in.
The MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey shows purchase applications up 1% from the week before—and 17% higher than this time last year.

In other words, when affordability improves even a little, buyers notice—and they act.

Why This Matters for Sellers

More buyers in the market = more eyes on your home. That can mean:

  • More showings → a bigger buyer pool increases visibility.

  • Stronger competition → even a few motivated buyers can spark bidding.

We may not be in the frenzy of 2021, but you don’t need 10 offers to get a great result. You just need the right one. And right now, that buyer could be scrolling Zillow at this very moment.

How to Ride the Momentum

If you’ve been thinking about selling, here’s how to make the most of the current uptick:

  • Get a market analysis → know your home’s value today.

  • Tackle small updates → little fixes can make a big impression.

  • Plan your marketing → professional photos, staging, and strong online exposure are key when buyers are searching harder than ever.

The bottom line? Buyers are motivated, and the window of opportunity is open. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to talk about selling, this could be it.

jennifer Sloan