Good news for prospective homebuyers

What It Covers

Marketplace examines housing market trends showing slowing price growth, the decline of cash payments among younger generations, record auto sales driven by policy changes, and the expanding private credit market reshaping consumer lending.

Key Questions Answered

• •Housing Price Dynamics: National home prices rose only 1.4% year-over-year through October, with real prices declining when adjusted for inflation. Northeast and Midwest markets show healthy appreciation while Florida experiences negative nominal returns, creating regional buying opportunities.
• •Cash Payment Decline: Cash now represents just 14% of all payments, with 20% of digital wallet users no longer carrying physical wallets. Gen Z consumers treat cash as disposable money, spending it thoughtlessly on treats rather than budgeting carefully as previous generations did.
• •Auto Sales Policy Impact: New vehicle sales reached 16 million units in 2025, the highest since 2019, driven by consumers rushing to buy before Trump's 25% tariffs and the September EV tax credit cancellation. These policy-driven surges temporarily masked a structurally smaller, wealthier buyer market.
• •Private Credit Expansion: Buy now pay later and alternative lending products increasingly fund consumer purchases, with data showing habitual use rather than one-time transactions. This shift creates measurement challenges for economists tracking consumer health, as traditional credit card data no longer captures complete borrowing patterns.