Weekly Update

August 1, 2025 - #514

Welcome to AUGUST! We had a great July, thanks to you and your referrals to our entire company. Speaking of our company, if you missed it, here’s our latest Quarterly Update, which included some BIG NEWS about the Best In Vestavia contest. Before we move on to the update, if you have questions about your current house like needing contact for a security systems, yard work, a small repair, or an even bigger renovation – don’t call the wrong folks and get an imposter, because we’ve got some GREAT folks for you to talk to, so reach out with your questions. Now, back to the update. We’ve said TIME FLIES when you’re having fun before, and so as the summer winds down, our editors, really appreciate each of you reading and engaging with our editors. With that, there’s no rest for the team here at Method - y’all are keeping us busy! Overall, this week, rates bounced around but generally got slightly better the results of which you can see just above the trivia question. Before you scroll down to the rates and trivia, as usual, there is LOTS GOING ON, SO LET’S GET STARTED!

CRAZY STORY

I’m sure some of you have seen the Florida stories that come out periodically, which are also known in pop culture as, “Florida Man” stories. Well, this one could be a chapter in what someday will be a popular Christmas time Coffee Table book, since it takes place in the great State of Florida. 

Researchers at University of Florida have come up with a VERY unique way to fight the battle against invasive Burmese Pythons. The snakes have been an issue since the 1970s, when the exotic pet trade brought them to the state. The pythons have been eating all manner of animals and winning the game of hide and go seek, thwarting game management’s attempts to get rid of them.

Enter the harmless little bunny.

But gang, this is no harmless creature. Nay-Nay. This is a solar powered, remote controlled robotic bunny with motion sensors, motors, and heaters designed to mimic the hippity hoppity movements of marsh rabbits in order to attract the snakes. But the researchers do have a back up plan if these robot’s movements don’t lure the pythons out of hiding. They’re ready to douse the robot rabbits in rabbit sent… perhaps available soon as an Axe Body Spray or eau de Parfum de Lepus. What an AMAZING future white elephant gift! Click below to read more.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

While our editors and some folks in Florida are focused on Robot-Bunnies, there are many here in Alabama that are LASER focused on the fast-approaching Football season, and you need a schedule to keep track of KEY matchups and dates for games. Gang, it’s a “Tradition Unlike Any Other” and the football magnet with three of the most important schools in the world is being printed as we speak. This schedule will help you know when to tune in to ESPN to answer those burning questions on your minds like… What does year three for Freeze look like? What does year two for DeBoer look like? What about Coach Corso’s last Game Day episode and MOST IMPORTANTLY, will Wake Forest win more than one game? Get excited, gang, cause just like the Big & Rich, College Game Day Song -

“we’re coming to your city… if you want a little ying in your ying yang… if you want a little zing in your zing zang” … let us know and we’ll add you to the list to receive your 2025 Collector’s Edition Football Magnet.

REAL ESTATE TO BEHOLD

While this section typically focuses on amazing houses from around the world, we wanted to feature this next story about the most beautiful towns in America. The list was assembled by the folks at Conde Nast Traveler and pulled spots from all over the United States – some beach spots, some mountain spots, and bigger towns, and some small town.

It’s a fun list based on absolute PURE subjectivity, and it did include one particularly picturesque spot here in Alabama (Magnolia Springs, population 844) and a favorite spot of one of our head editors, Cannon Beach, Oregon. How many of these places have you been to? Click below to read more.

Breaker Breaker readers, you got your ears on? This next house could be the PERFECT spot to have a diablo sandwich and a Dr Pepper. A slice of Smokey

and the Bandit history just hit the market! Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains

of Georgia, this unique, treehouse-like retreat once belonged to Burt Reynolds

at the height of his fame. The rustic, three-bedroom cabin sits on nearly four

acres and offers sweeping mountain views, wood-beamed ceilings, and a cozy

stone fireplace, perfect for channeling your inner '70s movie star. Listed for

$1.35 million, it’s a rare chance to own a piece of cinematic and real estate

legend… but you should leave if you hear banjo music. Click below to see more.

This one is a bit more than a house… It’s a full-bodied

real estate dream in wine country. Napa Valley’s iconic Vineyard 29 is up for

grabs, and it’s got more than just grapes going for it. Listed for $39 million,

the estate includes a high-end winery, a private cave system, luxurious tasting

rooms, and a sleek hilltop home overlooking rows of Cabernet Sauvignon. Owned

by tech investors Chuck and Anne McMinn, this isn’t just a property, it’s a

turnkey lifestyle for anyone looking to blend the three Ps --- passion,

prestige, and pinot. Click below to read more.

This last one is a home among the gum trees, straight from the land down under! Australian TV host and landscape designer Jamie Durie is selling his ultra-sustainable sanctuary just outside Sydney. This self-powered estate is nestled in the bush and built with natural materials that blend right into its surroundings. Designed with rugged natural materials like timber, stone, and rammed earth, the home runs entirely on solar power and rainwater. It’s got bold architecture, privacy, a rooftop garden, and all the modern comforts- just done sustainably. Listed for around $5 million USD, it’s off-grid luxury at its finest, complete with solar power, rainwater harvesting, and “eco-chic” vibes. Click the pictures to see more.

THE ECONOMY AND REAL ESTATE

Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of 3% (once adjusted for seasonality and inflation.) The American economy bounced back in the second quarter, following a small dip earlier in the year. This rebound was powered by resilient consumers who continued to spend despite some challenges. However, this growth story has some of their own snakes hiding in places, much like our Crazy Story. Businesses are taking a more cautious approach, with companies describing themselves as "driving in the right lane very slowly" due to ongoing uncertainties. While consumer spending picked up, business investment in buildings and equipment slowed down.

Trade dynamics played a significant role in boosting the quarterly numbers, though this created some volatility in the data. The stock market has performed well, helping boost American wealth, though the housing market continues facing headwinds from higher borrowing costs.

Overall, economists describe the economy as growing at a "solid pace," though overall it was slower than previous years, which may help push us toward lower rates.

With the GDP Report in the bag, Wednesday the Federal Reserve met and announced their interest rate decision to … DRUM ROLL….

To keep rates the SAME and with the report of Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) coming in hotter than expectations, reaching their biggest rise in four months, Septembers rate cut was in flux/doubt.

Before PCE came out, the Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged at 4.25% to 4.50% on Wednesday, which was really what the market expected. This decision helps Fed officials to continue to monitoring inflation trends and while, recent data shows encouraging progress on inflation, with headline inflation dropping to 2.1% and core inflation at 2.5% in the first quarter. While still slightly above the Fed's 2% target, the more recent reading on PCE, could delay any drops in rates, and overall… the stock market liked it…with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and the Dow Jones all responding positively.

The Federal Reserve and Chairman Powell continue taking a VERY measured approach to rate decisions, carefully balancing economic growth with inflation control to support long-term financial stability.

BUT, as Lee Corso says, Not so Fast my friend… as those long-term goals MAY have gotten flipped around on Friday as the Jobs report came out, showing hiring slowed way down with the latest jobs report showing the U.S. labor market added 206,000 jobs in June. Adding to the reversal was previous months totals were revised down. Unemployment ticked up to 4.1%, the highest since late 2021. While that might sound SUB-OPTIMAL, the potential silver lining was a big increase in the Vegas odds that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates sooner.



Some economists are now expecting rate cuts as this fall in September and November, with two potential cuts before year-end. That’s a big shift from earlier this week in the year when cuts looked far off. Gang, stay tuned and we’ll keep you informed about potential changes coming soon. Click below to read more! 

Final thing, since we are talking about the potential for rate cuts in September, since this IS a real estate and mortgage newsletter with the OCCASSIONAL story about robot bunnies, our editors thought we should consider the important question about what this does to the housing market for the rest of the year. They turned to their friends at Keeping Current Matters, which has some GREAT predictions that our editors wanted to share about the two housing markets that are unfolding – the Buyer’s Market and the Seller’s Market for the rest of 2025 with an article titled, Today’s Tale of Two Housing Markets.

Depending on where you live, the housing market could feel red-hot or strangely quiet right now. The truth is local markets are starting to move in different directions. In some places, buyers are calling the shots. In others, sellers still hold the power. It’s a tale of two markets.

What’s a Buyer’s Market vs. a Seller’s Market?

In a buyer’s market, there are more homes for sale and not as many buyers. That means homes sit longer, buyers have more negotiating power, and prices tend to soften as a result. It’s simple supply and demand.

On the flip side, a seller’s market happens when there aren’t enough homes available for the number of people looking to buy them. Because buyers have to compete with each other to get the house they want, that leads to faster sales, multiple offers, and rising prices.

Right now, both of these scenarios are playing out, depending on where you are. So, how do you know what kind of market you’re in? Lean on a local real estate agent. They’ll explain what’s really happening in your area based on these key drivers.

The Number of Buyers and Sellers by Region

One of the biggest factors impacting each market is the number of active buyers and sellers. According to Redfin, here’s what that looks like by region (see graph below):

Today, the Northeast and Midwest are more likely to be seller’s markets. Buyers still outnumber sellers there, and that keeps things tilted in favor of homeowners. Generally speaking, homes are selling faster, and prices are rising in those areas.

But the South and West are leaning more toward buyer’s markets. There are more sellers than buyers, which means more listings to choose from and less competition among buyers.

That’s a major shift from a few years ago when sellers had the advantage almost everywhere. Today, your local conditions matter more than ever – and they can vary even from one neighborhood to the next.

Price Trends Mirror the Buyer/Seller Divide

When inventory and buyer activity shift, so do prices. In places where demand still outpaces supply, like much of the Northeast and Midwest, prices are continuing to climb.

But in parts of the South and West where inventory is up and demand has cooled, prices are softening. And that’s a plus for buyers looking to negotiate in those areas.

Here’s the latest price data from ResiClub to show how this divide is shaking out across the top metros in the country (see graph below):

This is why it’s the tale of two markets. Roughly half of the top 50 metros are up, and half are relatively flat or down.

That said, don’t panic if you own a home in a market where prices are dipping. Most homeowners have built up significant equity over the past few years, and chances are you have too. So, you’re likely still come out way ahead when you sell.

Why Local Insights Matter

Even in regions that lean more buyer-friendly right now, there will be cities, towns, and even neighborhoods that don’t follow the regional trends. That’s why an agent’s local market expertise is so important. They can help you understand what’s happening all the way down to a zip code level, including:

• Whether your area is favoring buyers or sellers
• How to set the right price or craft an offer strategy based on local trends.
• The best way to make your move happen, no matter what’s happening in the market.

Bottom Line

In a market where conditions vary this much from place to place, success starts with understanding every aspect of your local area. Let’s connect so you’ve got an expert in your corner who knows exactly how to guide you through your market, wherever you are.

RATES:

Pricing and rates remain erratic and volatile. Confirm rates & pricing directly with your loan officer.

Check out the trivia below and remember, there is a drawing to enter to win a gift card. This is your chance to enter for a chance to win the gift card awarded every other month. This trivia question is for the July and August drawing/card.

TRIVIA QUESTION

With Burt Reynold’s house being up for sale, and a few Smokey and the Bandit references throughout, our trivia editor HAD to include a trivia question about the iconic movie. While Burt Reynold’s Bandit character drove the VERY recognizable 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird with gold trim, what is lesser known is the car that Jackie Gleason’s character, Sheriff Buford T. Justice drove and significantly damaged throughout the film, trying to keep up with the Bandit. What car did Sheriff Buford T. Justice and his son, Junior Justice drive throughout the film?

A. Ford LTD II

B. Pontiac Catalina

C. Chevrolet Caprice Classic

D. Pontiac LeMans



E. Lincoln Mark V

Click here to EMAIL ME YOUR ANSWER.

**Email your answer to me to have your name entered in a drawing for a gift card at the beginning of even months and YES you can go back and answer previous weeks’ questions if you have not answered them already AND if we have not unveiled the answer yet***

Have a great rest of the weekend. Stay safe out there. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. You can contact me by email. Please, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Thanks to many of you, we are continuing to expand our readership, so if you have a friend or client that you think may benefit from this newsletter, please feel free to forward it to them! If you got this from a friend, click here to sign up to receive it.