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The Perfect Storm Is Here: What Listing Agents Must Know About Tariffs, Rates, and the 2025 Market Shift

Updated: May 1

The 2025 real estate market isn’t just unpredictable—it’s getting hit from all sides. Mortgage rates are spiking. Construction costs are exploding. Buyer demand is wavering. And thanks to new tariffs, we’re now entering what some are calling a perfect storm.


If you're a listing agent waiting for things to settle before taking action, you're already behind. The next 90 days could define your sellers' bottom line—and your reputation.


This blog unpacks the market shifts reshaping 2025 listings, shows you how to communicate real-time insights to your sellers about price adjustments, and gives you a proven approach to lead with clarity, not panic.


A confident real estate agent sitting at a modern kitchen table across from a couple, presenting a beautifully formatted CMA on a tablet or laptop. The couple is engaged and impressed, leaning in with interest. Sunlight streams in through the windows, casting a warm, welcoming glow. The table is clear, with a few light personal touches (like coffee cups or a notepad). The atmosphere feels professional yet personal, highlighting trust, clarity, and expertise. The agent’s body language shows confidence and clarity, while the sellers appear reassured and optimistic. Include soft real estate branding elements, like a subtle logo on the tablet screen or a branded folder on the table. Mid-century modern kitchen design, clean and bright.
Tariffs, Rates & Listings: 2025 Real Estate Strategy for Agents

Tariffs Are Triggering a Perfect Storm in Real Estate


According to HousingWire, recent tariffs on key construction materials—including lumber, steel, and aluminum—are adding an average of $9,200 to the cost of building a new home. That figure, backed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), is pushing developers to slow new construction, creating ripple effects for inventory levels and pricing pressure across the board.


Meanwhile, mortgage rates have just spiked to 6.83%, the highest level since early February, according to AP News. These back-to-back hits are creating a one-two punch:


Tariffs are increasing material costs — adding an average of $9,200+ to the price of new homes.

Higher construction costs mean higher prices, which pushes more buyers out of the market. Buyer demand is dropping — mortgage rates just had their biggest jump in months New home starts are slowing, which reduces inventory in an already-tight market

If you don't actively communicate this to your sellers, you're leaving the door wide open for confusion, hesitation, or—worse—price reductions that could have been avoided.


Why This Matters to Your Sellers


Let’s cut through the noise:

  • Rising construction costs make resale homes more attractive—but only while inventory is low.

  • Higher mortgage rates mean fewer buyers can afford the homes they could have 60 days ago.

  • Sellers who wait could miss peak pricing opportunities as rates continue to fluctuate.


What they need right now isn’t another "market update." They need you to simplify the chaos, provide direction, and help them move forward with confidence.


How to Use This With Your Seller Database


✅ STEP 1: COPY + PASTE THIS EMAIL


Subject: Important Market Update – Let’s Stay Ahead of What’s Coming


Hi [Seller’s Name],
I wanted to reach out with an important update that directly impacts your home sale.
New trade tariffs are creating serious headwinds in the real estate market. Mortgage rates just saw their biggest jump in months, construction costs are skyrocketing (adding over $9,200 to new builds), and buyer activity is already dropping.
What does this mean for us? Buyers are becoming more cautious—and they’re getting hit with higher borrowing costs. That’s why it’s critical we stay ahead of the market, not behind it.
Let me know a good time to connect so we can talk through this and move forward strategically. We’ve come too far to lose momentum now.
Talk soon,[Your Name]

✅ STEP 2: SEGMENT YOUR LIST

  • Active listing leads: Send immediately with a short follow-up text the next day

  • Past clients: Add a sentence thanking them for trusting you, and offer a new CMA

  • Warm fence-sitters: Use this to re-open the door and set a coffee or Zoom check-in


✅ STEP 3: ADD A FOLLOW-UP PLAN

Use your CRM to tag everyone who opens or replies. Add them to a short-term nurture sequence with:

  • Weekly market stats

  • Pricing updates

  • Testimonials from clients who sold in this market

This isn’t just a market update. It’s a real-time strategy to help you win listings, earn trust, and help sellers make the right move—right now.


Ready to Turn This Insight into Listings?


Reading this blog already puts you ahead of the curve—but insight without action doesn’t get your sellers moving, and it doesn’t build your business.


You now have a tactical advantage: you know what’s really happening in the market and how to communicate it.


But if you want to consistently:

  • Win listings before your competitors even show up

  • Price with confidence and get offers without reducing the price

  • Build an endless listing lead pipeline based on your strengths and unique personality


WANT MORE?

Learn How to Make an Extra $90,000 in Just 90 Days!

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Sources



Keywords: 2025 housing market update, listing agent pricing strategy, how to talk to hesitant sellers, real estate market shift, mortgage rate increases, construction costs, real estate tariffs, how to get more listings, CMA tips, residential listing scripts, Brendan Bartic, Listing BEAST

1 Comment

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Apr 18
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

It's all about educating our sellers. Thanks for the email template--great to send to all the sellers in my database.

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