Ryan Haley is back with Atlantic Shores Sotheby's International Realty, coming to you with the very first real estate market report for 2025. Happy New Year to you!

So, what is going on here at the beach? Well, let’s start off by saying we got our first significant snowfall in a couple of years. Kids have been off school for three days, and they are loving it.

That being said, snow can affect our real estate market. Honestly, over the last two years, we really didn’t have any measurable snow. However, in my 22–23 years of experience in this business, I’ve seen that depending on the severity of the winter, the spring market can either be delayed or kick in sooner. If we have a mild winter, the spring market tends to start earlier. If it’s cold like this, the spring market can be delayed, but once it does get underway, we typically see it really take off.

Current Market Trends in Worcester County

As of today, it’s yet to be seen when the spring market will completely kick in. Over the last seven days in Worcester County, Maryland, we had 46 new listings come on the market while 46 properties went under contract—extremely balanced, which is a good sign. Overall, there are 565 active listings in Worcester County. We are selling properties at a pace of 102 a month, giving us 6.4 months of supply. Recall that six months and above typically leans toward a buyer's market, and we’re just over that. I think some of this is due to the last three weeks of Christmas, New Year’s, and now the snow. Inventory is starting to build up slightly because many buyers haven’t been able to focus on the market. That will likely change soon.

Wicomico County Market Overview

In Wicomico County, we had 20 new listings and 15 properties go under contract in the last seven days. There are 215 total active listings as of today, with properties selling at a pace of 66 per month. This gives Wicomico County a 3.3-month supply.

Insights into Sussex County, Delaware

Finally, in Sussex County, Delaware, we had 138 new listings come on the market in the last seven days while 120 properties went under contract. There are 1,650 total active listings in the county, with 322 going under contract in the last 30 days. This gives Sussex County a 5.1-month supply.

Interest Rates and Their Impact

Now for a quick look at interest rates: Interest rates are up slightly. The average 30-year fixed rate is currently 7.17% nationwide. Government products such as FHA, VA, and USDA loans are averaging around 6.85%.

One thing I want to point out about interest rates—and this is important for both sellers and buyers—is that you don’t have to accept today’s rate as is. You can negotiate to buy down the rate. If you’re a seller listing your property, you may want to consider offering to pay points to buy down the rate for a potential buyer. This gives the buyer more purchasing power. On the buyer’s side, you can negotiate with the seller to allocate funds toward points to buy down the rate. There are many creative ways to approach this, and we’d love to help you strategize if needed.

Conclusion

There you have it—the first market report for 2025! I hope to bring you 51 more reports before the end of the year. If you need anything, please reach out to us. Otherwise, like, subscribe, share this with a friend, and we’ll talk to you soon!