TORONTO & NEW YORK, April 23, 2025 –The Real Brokerage Inc. (NASDAQ: REAX, “Real”), a technology platform reshaping real estate for agents, home buyers and sellers, today released results from its March 2025 Agent Survey. Nearly half of agents said the spring selling season is shaping up to be stronger than they had anticipated at the start of the year, though most also noted shifts in buyer and seller behavior amid the evolving economic landscape.
“While tariffs and fiscal policy have dominated headlines, our agents on the ground are seeing signs that the housing recovery may be more resilient than expected,” said Tamir Poleg, Chairman and CEO of Real.
“This spring, we’re seeing a clear shift: buyers now have more negotiating power, and sellers are showing increased flexibility on pricing and concessions,” said Sharran Srivatsaa, President of Real. “It’s a reflection of how both sides are adjusting to current market conditions after a period of historically low transaction activity.”
Key Survey Findings: Market Trends and Insights
Transaction Growth Rebounds Slightly in March: Real’s Transaction Growth Index, which measures year-over-year changes in home sales activity as reported by agents, rose modestly to 50.2 in March, up from 49.1 in February. A score above 50 signals expansion. U.S. transaction activity improved modestly, with the sub-index improving to 50.8 in March from 49.4 in February, while Canada’s sub-index declined slightly to 45.0, down from 46.2 in February.
Agent Optimism Holds Steady Near Recent Highs: Real’s Agent Optimism Index, which measures agent sentiment on their local market outlook over the next 12 months, came in at 70.4 in March, unchanged from February, and still among the strongest readings since the survey began. Forty-six percent (46%) of agents reported feeling more optimistic about their local market compared to the previous month, with 23% feeling significantly more optimistic. Only 9% of agents felt more pessimistic, while 22% remained neutral.
Buyer Power Overtakes Seller Power for the First Time Since Survey Inception: In March, 35% of agents described their market as a buyer’s market — marking the first time since the survey launched in January 2024 that this share has exceeded those citing a seller’s market (32%). Meanwhile, 33% of agents reported balanced conditions. The shift reflects growing buyer leverage as inventory levels increase and sellers adjust pricing expectations.
Affordability Still the Biggest Barrier, But Economic Uncertainty Is Rising Sharply: Nearly half of agents (48%) cited affordability as the biggest challenge facing buyers in March, consistent with recent trends. Meanwhile, 21% of agents pointed to broader economic uncertainty as the primary obstacle for buyers — its highest level since September 2024, and more than double the level reported in January. Inventory constraints were cited by 22% of agents, while buyer competition remains limited at just 5%.
Key Survey Findings: Spring Selling Season Sentiment
Spring Market Outperformed Expectations in March: Nearly half (45%) of agents said the spring selling season has been stronger than they anticipated at the start of the year — 27% reported it is “slightly stronger”, while 18% described it as “much stronger.” Another 29% said activity is in line with expectations, while 26% reported weaker-than-expected conditions.
Economic Uncertainty Influencing Buyer and Seller Decisions: One in four agents (25%) reported recent macroeconomic developments are having a significant impact on client behavior, with clients pausing or changing their home buying or selling plans. Another 52% observed a moderate effect, with clients raising questions and concerns about the economy. Meanwhile, 23% of agents said the impact has been limited — 19% noted clients are moving forward as planned, while 4% reported no noticeable change in client behavior.
Buyers Becoming More Price Sensitive: When asked how buyer behavior has shifted in recent weeks, agents most frequently cited an increase in buyer requests for seller concessions (37%). Another 34% observed that buyers are reducing their budgets or showing greater price sensitivity – both signs of growing caution in the current environment.
Sellers Growing More Flexible, But Divided on Timing to List: On the listing side, 41% of agents said sellers are offering concessions or pricing homes more competitively to meet the market. However, many sellers remain divided on timing: 27% of agents noted sellers are delaying listings due to market uncertainty, while 22% are accelerating listings to stay ahead of potential market softness. Only 21% of agents observed no notable shift in seller behavior.