The Kolb Team Newsletter – June 2025

Lawrence Yun, speaking at NAR’s 2025 Realtors Legislative Meetings in Washington, DC, predicted existing home sales will increase by 6% this year and by 11% next year. But while Yun expected sales to slow through the end of next year, Yun stated the median home price will climb by 3% in 2025 and by 4% in 2026. He also believes mortgage rates will average 6.4% in the second half of 2025 and 6.1% in 2026.

Yun complained that the “fast ascent of mortgage rates has really hurt the real estate market,” adding that new homebuyers are being burdened with elevated mortgage payments.

“This is what’s killing the housing market,” he continued. “Mortgage rates are the magic bullet, and we’re waiting and waiting until those come down.”

As for hoping that Chairman Jerome Powell’s Federal Reserve will offer a cavalry-worthy rescue, Yun observed that the inflation rate of 2.3% is outside of the central bank’s 2.0% implicit target that would trigger a new round of rate cuts. But remember, while a reduction in the Fed rate may possibly help, mortgage rates are more tied to the 10-year treasury bond. Because of the economic instability, fewer people are investing in these bonds, which creates a higher yield and hence higher mortgage rates. What is needed is for our country’s economic policies to show growth and certainty without fear of inflation.

National Growing Inventory: A total of $698 billion worth of US homes are listed for sale as of April, according to new data from Redfin. This marks a 20.3% increase from one year ago and the highest dollar amount recorded since Redfin began tracking this data in 2012. This new record was achieved as the US housing supply soared 16.7% year-over-year, the highest inventory since pre-pandemic 2019. The number of homes for sale has topped 1 million for the first time since the winter of 2019, according to data from Realtor.com. However, only metros in the Southern or Western United States have fully returned to pre-pandemic inventory levels. Also in May, 19.1% of listings featured reduced prices, the highest share for any May since at least 2016. The metros with the most price reductions were mostly in the USA’s west and south, including Phoenix (31.3%), Tampa (29.9%), and Denver (29.4%).

Not only are there more homes for sale than there have been in five years, but the value of those homes is higher than it has ever been. So, expect rising inventory, weakened demand, and the prevalence of stale supply (homes that have been on the market a long time) to push home prices down a little by the end of this year. We do not expect this to be a long-term market shift, especially if economic certainty and consumer confidence returns and interest rates come down a little.

As always, The Kolb Team is here to help with all your real estate needs!

Welcome home to this fabulous, expanded Shawnee model situated right on the lake in the vibrant active adult community of Cottonwood CC. Enjoy expansive water views and a gorgeously remodeled kitchen featuring custom quartzite counters and waterfall island. Plus, interior space galore. This 2BR 2BA home boasts an extended great room, air-conditioned Arizona room / office, crafting space. Plus, beautiful covered outdoor patios complete with workbench and ample golf cart parking. Enjoy fabulous sunsets and panoramic lake views. Watch egrets, blue heron, ducks, and wildlife from the patio areas. You won’t want to miss this home with access to fitness center, pools, golf, tennis, pickleball, restaurants and bars, and 100’s of clubs and organizations.

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Directions:

Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel. Dust one side of the scallops with a small amount of flour, then season with salt and pepper.
Heat a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil to the pan. When the oil is hot and shimmery, carefully place the scallops in the pan, floured & seasoned side down.
Cook, without moving them, until browned, about 2 minutes.
While the first side is browning, dust the unseasoned side of the scallops with a bit of flour then season with salt and pepper.
Flip the scallops. If any stick to the pan, wait a few more seconds then try again, gently wiggling them side-to-side to help release them.
Add the butter and garlic to the pan, swirling the butter around as it melts.
Cook another minute or two, then remove the pan from the heat.
Stir in the basil leaves and lemon slices.
Serve

June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. Summer in Arizona brings dry air, intense heat, monsoons, haboobs, and fast changing weather, which, for many of us, brings the dreaded “headache season”. Whether the headache was a nagging nuisance that slightly irritated for a few hours or a three-day migraine that ruined several days’ plans, there’s a good chance that you’ve experienced some level of pounding in your head during our summers. Here are six tips that may help you have fewer headache days or improve the pain when they happen.

Hydration is Key
Did you know that simple dehydration is a very common cause of headaches? Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, as it can often prevent a headache or reduce the intensity of one. If you feel a headache coming on, try drinking a full glass of water and continue sipping fluids regularly. Numerous studies suggest that drinking electrolyte beverages, including “sports drinks” from the store and homemade recipes, can help prevent headaches – especially migraines – so give them a try!
Stress Management
A major headache trigger is stress. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Even taking a short walk or listening to calming music can make a big difference. Supplementation with magnesium may also be useful in limiting the effects of stress on the body, and worth discussing with your medical practitioner.
Improve Posture
Poor posture can lead to tension headaches. Do you work at a desk? Keep your monitor at eye level, your back straight, avoid hunching over, and get up to stretch and move around every hour to help relieve muscle tension. Are you looking down at your devices (like phones or tablets) or crafts for long periods of time? Our heads bent forward like this adds stress to the neck and can cause tight muscles. Be sure to take a break and look up at least every 30 minutes and do some neck stretches.
Use Cold and/or Warm Compresses
Applying a cold compress to your forehead can help comfort you during the pain of a migraine or headache. A warm compress around your neck and shoulders may ease tension headaches by relaxing tight muscles. You can also try combining cold and heat – cold on the forehead, and at the same time, place the hands and feet in very warm water – the combination is said to encourage blood flow and ease head pain.
Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
Both caffeine (a stimulant) and alcohol (a depressant) can trigger headaches in some people. Try cutting back or eliminating them from your routine to see if your symptoms improve. This can be somewhat confusing, as a popular over-the-counter headache/migraine medication contains aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. If you are not a regular user of caffeinated products, you may find relief using this concoction.
Stick to a Regular Sleep Schedule
Insomnia or irregular sleep patterns can contribute to the frequency and severity of headaches. Most people find relief when they aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep each and every night, while also going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each day.

We hope these tips help you during this summer’s headache season. Small lifestyle adjustments can make a big difference! When you implement these tips, we recommend you keep a daily headache journal so you can track what helps your migraines and headaches, as well as what makes them worse. Next month, we’ll share some must-have recipes for home headache treatments, so keep an eye out for our July newsletter!

Note: If your headaches or migraines persist or worsen, please consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation and to identify any underlying causes and find treatments tailored to fit your needs and unique situation.