Home buyers may be gaining some leverage this fall.

Nearly 1 in 5 listings took a price cut last month, according to Realtor.com.

As the market continues to adjust, softening prices could present new opportunities for buyers who’ve been waiting on the sidelines. We’ll take a closer look below.

Today’s Topics:

Westchester County’s “Market Hotness”
Realtor.com Says It’s Go Time for Buyers
Own & Earn: Join our Two-Family Open House

The Westchester Market: From Hot to Healthy?

The latest Market Hotness Rank from Realtor.com® and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) shows that Westchester County’s housing market could be transitioning toward a more balanced pace after two years of intense competition. The rank measures how “hot” an area’s market is compared to all U.S. counties — with 1 representing the hottest and 1,612 the coolest in the nation.

Westchester’s Market Hotness Rank so far in 2025:

January (Rank 636): Soft start to the year following late-2024 cooldown.
March (Rank 360): 🔥 Peak Spring demand.
June (Rank 590): Early signs of the summer slowdown.
August (Rank 851): ❄️ Coolest reading of 2025 amid buyer fatigue.
September (Rank 552): Autumn rebound as listings adjust and activity resumes

Ralph’s Take

The Hotness Rank is best read in context, it’s a comparative measure, not a report card. Even if Westchester isn’t sitting near the top spot, it’s still one of the stronger, more active markets in the country. A higher rank doesn’t always mean demand is fading; it can simply reflect fewer listings, longer selling times, or seasonal slowdowns. What we’re seeing now could be the market catching its breath after two years of sprinting.

Westchester’s Record Hotness: 260 in March 2024.

Westchester Weekly Market Tracker 📈

‘Coming Soon’: 19 ↑+6
New Listings: 199 ↓-19
Price Reductions: 95 +0
Pending Sales: 190 ↑+23
Closed Sales: 160 ↓-18

💰 Find your home’s value here: What’s my home worth?

_{Property Type: Residential. OneKey MLS, Inc. 10/3/25 - 10/10/25.}

Realtor.com Says It’s Go Time for Buyers

Still looking for the right home to buy? Mid-October may be your best shot. Realtor.com data shows that the week of October 12–18 is when the market tilts in buyers’ favor: more listings, lower prices, and fewer bidding wars. Sellers are more motivated, competition eases, and prices dip just enough to make a real difference — about $15,000 in savings on a median home. Here’s the breakdown:

📈 Listings jump 32% higher compared to earlier months.
💰 Prices dip 3–4% below peak levels.
🏃‍♂️ Competition falls by roughly 30%, easing bidding wars.
📉 October posts the lowest seller premium of the year (~8.8%).
🤝 Buyers gain leverage to negotiate concessions on repairs.

Ralph’s Take

Fall has always been an underrated season for buyers, and it tends to move quickly. Once the clocks roll back and we lose daylight, showing activity drops — but that can work in your favor. With days on market increasing, softer prices, and fewer bidding wars, October is a favorable time for house hunters. Add in the fact that mortgage rates are lower now than they were in the spring, and buyers have a little extra breathing room. Even if the spring and summer rush left you drained, don’t sit this season out.

Own & Earn: Two-Family Open House in New Rochelle! 🎈

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, October 11th: 1:00 - 3:00pm

ADDRESS: 161 Stephenson Boulevard, New Rochelle

Versatile Two-Family Home with Income Potential. Spacious and well-maintained, this home offers two large three-bedroom units — perfect for owner-occupants or investors. Live in one and rent the other to offset your mortgage, or lease both for maximum returns. Both units include private entrances, hardwood flooring, and well-proportioned rooms. Whether you're looking for flexible living or a strong investment, this property checks all the boxes.

📃 Listing Report

Just Missed the Cut

Last Call: If you're planning a move in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of next year, now is the time to photograph your home, especially the exterior, while the trees are still full and curb appeal is at its peak. We can create your property media now and adjust the images to tone down the fall colors, giving them a more spring-like appearance. That way, everything is ready to go when you find your next home or make your move in 2026.

As Warren Buffett has said many times, “Preparation is everything.”