Connect with us

Finance

Homes listed in June often sell for more than usual, a Zillow study reveals

Published

2 years ago

on

Sellers can get $7,700 more, on average, than the original listing price if they list in the spring.  (iStock)

Homeowners looking to sell this year may want to wait until June to list, when sellers tend to make the most. In 2023, homes listed in June sold for 2.3% more, according to a Zillow analysis. This equals an additional $7,700, on average, to the median sale price. Before the pandemic, May used to be the best month to list, according to Zillow. But, since 2019, June is more profitable.

“The old logic was that sellers could earn a premium by listing in late spring when their home would be on the top of the pile of listings when search activity was at its peak. Now, with persistently low inventory, mortgage rate fluctuations make their own seasonality,” Skylar Olsen, Zillow chief economist, said.

Location impacts the exact month that’s best for sellers to list. In San Francisco, the best time to list is the second half of February, but in New York and Philadelphia, the first half of July brings higher home prices.

The table below shows 10 of the major real estate markets and when the best home listing time is within those markets:

Location Best Time to List Price Premium Profit Boost
New York, NY First half of July 2.4 % $15,500
Los Angeles, CA First half of May 4.1 % $39,300
Chicago, IL First half of June 2.8 % $8,800
Dallas, TX First half of June 2.5 % $9,200
Houston, TX Second half of April 2.0 % $6,200
Washington, DC Second half of June 2.2 % $12,700
Philadelphia, PA First half of July 2.4 % $8,200
Miami, FL First half of June 2.3 % $12,900
Atlanta, GA Second half of June 2.3 % $8,700
Boston, MA Second half of May 3.5 % $23,600

This year in particular may be an interesting year as buyers wait to see if the Federal Reserve will drop interest rates.

“First-time home buyers who are on the edge of qualifying for a home loan may dip in and out of the market, depending on what’s happening with rates. It is almost certain the Federal Reserve will push back any interest-rate cuts to mid-2024 at the earliest. If mortgage rates follow, that could bring another surge of buyers later this year,” Olsen said.

If you think you’re ready to shop around for a home loan, consider using Credible to help you easily compare interest rates from multiple lenders in minutes.

HOMEBUYERS GAINED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AS MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES FALL: REDFIN

Home affordability remains a hurdle for prospective homebuyers

While sellers make out well in the spring buying rush, homebuyers face record-high home prices and bidding wars.

In a recent congressional hearing, Dr. Jessica Lautz, the deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of REALTORS®, laid out the current conditions of the housing market. She explained that the annual number of home sales for existing homes is the lowest it’s been since 1995.

Buyers aren’t buying for numerous reasons. Lautz cited more frequent bidding wars and a lack of inventory on the market. As of January, the average seller receives 2.7 offers. Plus, 16% of homes that did sell were over the list price.

“First-time home buyers continue to struggle to enter the housing market lacking the housing equity that boosts the purchasing power of repeat buyers,” Lautz said. “First-time buyers accounted for 32% of primary-residence buyers last year, which remains well under the historical norm of 40%. While there is a smaller share of first-time buyers, they are also older than they have been historically.” 

In the 1980s, the typical first-time buyer was in their late 20s; however, they are now in their mid 30s,” Lautz continued. 

She further explained that the average first-time buyer that successfully bought a home had an income that was about $25,000 higher than those who bought last year. This creates a divide in wealth between homeowners and renters.

“The wealth held by homeowners is 40 times that of a renter,” according to Lautz. “Housing wealth can be used to help children attend college, pay for remodeling costs on the home, in retirement or even help their own children achieve the dream of homeownership.”

If you’re looking to purchase a home in today’s market, you can explore your mortgage options by visiting Credible to compare rates and lenders and get a mortgage preapproval letter in minutes.

HOMEBUYERS CONSIDERING PURCHASING TINY HOMES AND FIXER-UPPERS TO COMBAT HIGH HOME PRICES

Certain states continue to face high homeowners insurance rates

Adding to the cost of homeownership, homeowner insurance rates are increasing throughout the entire country. For a $300,000 property, homeowners insurance rose by 12% in 2023 and now averages $1,770 annually, according to Insurify data.

Certain states are getting the brunt of rising rates. Florida remains the state most affected by rate hikes, with homeowners now paying $9,213 annually, on average. Additionally, some California residents who use State Farm will have their policies pulled altogether, the company announced. About 30,000 homeowners policies, rental policies and other property insurance policies won’t be renewed.

“This decision was not made lightly and only after careful analysis of State Farm General’s financial health, which continues to be impacted by inflation, catastrophe exposure, reinsurance costs, and the limitations of working within decades-old insurance regulations,” the release said.

The non-renewals will happen on a rolling basis over the course of the next year. Beginning July 3, homeowners and renters, as well as businesses with property coverage won’t be able to seek renewal.

While homeowners insurance may be high, you can try to lower your housing costs by shopping around for low mortgage rates. Credible lets you view multiple mortgage lenders and provide you with personalized rates, all without impacting your credit.

NORTH CAROLINA’S INSURANCE RATES HIKE DENIED, RATES IN OTHER STATES STILL RISING

Have a finance-related question, but don’t know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Finance

Private Credit Expansion and Regulatory Oversight in 2026 Capital Markets

Published

5 days ago

on

August 9, 2026

By

The global private credit market has solidified its role as a fundamental pillar of enterprise finance, expanding rapidly across middle-market lending, asset-backed finance, and infrastructure financing. As non-bank financial institutions capture a larger share of corporate debt origination, global regulatory bodies are increasing oversight to evaluate market transparency and systemic risk interconnections.

Growth Drivers in Direct Lending
Direct lending platforms have continued to attract substantial institutional allocations from pension funds, sovereign wealth entities, and insurance companies seeking attractive risk-adjusted yields. Private debt funds offer corporate borrowers customized financing structures, faster execution timelines, and confidentiality compared to syndicated loan markets.

In 2026, private credit managers are increasingly financing larger corporate transactions, providing multi-billion-dollar credit facilities for buyout deals and corporate restructurings. The flexibility of private debt contracts—featuring unitranche pricing and tailored covenant packages—has made direct lending the preferred capital source for middle-market enterprise sponsors.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Systemic Risk Assessment
The rapid growth of non-bank intermediation has drawn heightened scrutiny from financial regulators in North America and Europe. Because private debt agreements are negotiated privately without public exchange disclosures, central banks are evaluating potential vulnerabilities related to asset valuation consistency and fund liquidity profiles.

Regulatory agencies are introducing guidelines aimed at improving reporting standards for private investment vehicles managing institutional assets. Key focus areas include monitoring leverage ratios within private credit funds and evaluating indirect credit exposures between commercial banking institutions and private debt funds.

Navigating Elevated Refinancing Costs
With benchmark interest rates remaining elevated, private debt borrowers face higher debt service obligations on floating-rate credit facilities. Financial advisory firms report an increase in proactive liability management strategies, including payment-in-kind (PIK) interest options, equity infusions from sponsors, and covenant modifications.

Private credit managers with deep operational capabilities are actively working alongside portfolio companies to optimize working capital and maintain cash flow coverage ratios during periods of higher borrowing costs.

Key Financial Takeaways
1. Mainstream Asset Class: Private credit has expanded beyond niche alternative asset status into a core corporate finance solution.
2. Enhanced Transparency Standards: Regulatory frameworks are evolving toward greater disclosure requirements for private debt managers.
3. Proactive Risk Management: Lenders and sponsors must prioritize debt sustainability and active portfolio monitoring amid high benchmark rates.

Continue Reading

Finance

Venture Capital and Startup Valuations in 2026: Focus on Unit Economics and Sustainable Growth

Published

1 week ago

on

August 5, 2026

By

The global venture capital (VC) ecosystem is operating under a disciplined investment framework in 2026. Following years of valuation adjustments and shifting liquidity environments, venture capital firms and private equity investors are prioritizing proven unit economics, positive cash flow pathways, and capital efficiency over rapid, unconstrained user acquisition.

The Shift Toward Disciplined Startup Valuations
Early-stage and growth-stage startup valuations have stabilized at sustainable historical averages. Venture capital partners are conducting rigorous due diligence processes before deploying capital, scrutinizing gross margins, customer acquisition costs (CAC), net revenue retention (NRR), and lifetime value (LTV) metrics.

While total capital deployed remains robust, seed and Series A funding rounds are taking longer to finalize. Founders are expected to demonstrate clear product-market fit and defensible intellectual property rather than relying on top-line revenue projections unsupported by strong underlying economics.

M&A Activity and Liquidity Solutions
The market for venture-backed exits is seeing renewed momentum through strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and secondary market liquidity facilities. Established corporate enterprises are acquiring high-performing technology startups to integrate proprietary artificial intelligence models and specialized software solutions into their product ecosystems.

Simultaneously, secondary market transactions have become an essential liquidity mechanism for early employees and institutional investors. Specialized secondary funds are purchasing pre-IPO shares at discounted valuations, providing liquidity opportunities while companies remain private for longer durations.

Sector Allocation: Deep Tech, Clean Energy, and Enterprise Automation
Venture capital investment is heavily concentrated in deep technology and capital-intensive engineering sectors. High-growth investment themes include:
– Next-Generation Semiconductors: Hardware startups designing specialized AI processors and energy-efficient microchip architectures.
– Clean Technology: Battery chemistry innovations, carbon capture solutions, and grid-scale energy storage startups.
– Enterprise Process Automation: Software platforms that automate complex workflows in healthcare, financial services, and industrial logistics.

Key Insights for Entrepreneurs and Investors
1. Prioritize Capital Efficiency: Startups focused on achieving operational profitability receive higher valuation premiums from institutional investors.
2. Strategic Exit Planning: Corporate M&A is serving as a primary exit route for venture-backed startups navigating prolonged IPO windows.
3. Focus on High-Moat Technologies: Deep tech and proprietary software architectures are securing the majority of growth-stage capital allocations.

Continue Reading

Finance

The Evolution of Digital Payments: Cross-Border Settlement and Central Bank Digital Currencies in 2026

Published

1 week ago

on

August 5, 2026

By

The infrastructure supporting global commerce is undergoing a major technological upgrade as real-time digital payment rails, cross-border settlement solutions, and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot programs achieve widespread commercial adoption. Financial institutions and fintech developers are reimagining payment processing to eliminate friction, lower transaction fees, and accelerate settlement speed.

Transforming Cross-Border Settlement Infrastructure
For decades, international corporate payments relied on legacy correspondent banking networks characterized by multi-day settlement delays, opaque fee structures, and high foreign exchange markups. In 2026, modern cross-border payment networks are enabling near-instantaneous settlement for international trade transactions.

Financial technology platforms are leveraging distributed ledger technology and real-time gross settlement (RTGS) interconnections to settle transactions in seconds. International trade participants benefit from reduced working capital requirements and minimized foreign exchange volatility risks during cross-border transfers.

Commercial Expansion of Central Bank Digital Currencies
Central banks representing major global economies are advancing CBDC initiatives from research phases into active commercial deployment. Wholesale CBDCs—designed specifically for interbank settlement and financial institution clearing—are demonstrating substantial efficiency gains in domestic and international transactions.

At the retail level, several nations have introduced public digital currency options alongside existing commercial banking networks. These sovereign digital payment channels aim to expand financial inclusion, lower consumer transaction fees, and improve the efficiency of government-to-citizen financial disbursements.

Open Banking and Embedded Finance Ecosystems
Alongside settlement infrastructure upgrades, open banking regulations and embedded finance frameworks are transforming merchant-consumer interactions. Commercial businesses across retail, travel, and business-to-business (B2B) services are integrating seamless payment APIs directly into their customer software interfaces.

Through open banking frameworks, consumers can initiate secure bank-to-bank payments without relying on traditional credit card networks, significantly reducing merchant processing fees. Integrated Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) options and point-of-sale credit facilities continue to expand, driving higher conversion rates for digital commerce platforms.

Strategic Financial Takeaways
1. Treasury Optimization: Corporate treasurers should leverage instant cross-border payment platforms to minimize liquidity buffers and foreign exchange exposure.
2. CBDC Integration: Financial institutions must prepare internal core banking systems to interface with emerging wholesale CBDC payment rails.
3. Merchant Fee Reduction: Enterprise merchants can lower payment processing overhead by adopting account-to-account (A2A) open banking checkout solutions.

Continue Reading

Trending