The Market's Biggest Surprise That Nobody Saw Coming

The Market's Biggest Surprise That Nobody Saw Coming

Are first-time homebuyers returning to the Washington County real estate market? See how high mortgage rates are affecting sales. This update analyzes current housing market trends for May 2026. Jesse Paul from The Larkin Group reviews specific data on local property activity, focusing on how long homes are staying listed before selling. Whether you are actively shopping or just tracking local property values, this breakdown clarifies the current landscape for buyers. We review a detailed bar graph illustrating total sales by days on market figures. By examining these trends, you can better understand if competition is shifting for first-time homebuyers in your area despite sustained high mortgage rates. This data provides a clear picture of how Washington County real estate is moving month-over-month. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue 0:00 Why First-Time Buyers Are Back 6:53 Rent Vs Own And Locking Costs 9:25 Days On Market Changes Everything 11:24 The 30-Day Window For Sellers 16:20 Create Competition Or Get Negotiated Down 18:02 Seller Stories That Distort Reality 22:40 Final Takeaways And How To Reach Us

If You Price It Right, It Sells Fast

The current housing market presents a challenging landscape for potential buyers. Our latest discussion highlights the difficulties faced when trying to find available properties, with limited home inventory making it tough for a real estate agent to secure viewings. We offer essential home buying tips for navigating this competitive market and successfully buying a house in the area. We break down why the St. George market feels frozen while the right buyers still negotiate strong deals and the right sellers still sell fast. We also share the pricing and days-on-market data that punishes wishful listing prices and rewards sellers who get serious early. • why motivated buyers can still negotiate in today’s market • how sellers still win by pricing right and showing well • what people really mean when they ask “how’s the market?” • why low-rate mortgages create the “great stall” and suppress home sales • who is buying now: first-time buyers and small move-up buyers • why the “rates are too high” objection is fading over time • the days-on-market numbers that show why the first 30 days matter most Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue 0:00 Why Buyers Are Pausing Deals 1:56 Buyer’s Market Or Seller’s Market 4:18 The Real Question Behind Rates 6:22 The Great Stall And Low Mortgages 11:46 First-Time Buyers Adapt To Rates 17:09 Pricing Data And The 30-Day Rule

Your Next Move Might Be No Move at All

Your Next Move Might Be No Move at All. Get ready for the best guest we've ever had on the St. George Real Estate Morning Drive. They candidly about what it’s like to build a marriage and a life across two cities while trying to make smart, sane decisions in a tough Utah housing market. Along the way, we connect dating apps to lead generation, unpack why buyers and sellers misunderstand each other, and land on a simple takeaway: be a steward of what you already have. • living as a commuting marriage with two households and shared custody realities • how dating apps mirror real estate lead follow-up and decision overload • why house hunting feels harder now with million-dollar expectations and big renovation gaps • choosing stewardship over escaping to the next house, including reinvesting in the home we’re in • “what we resist persists” and how resistance blocks progress and gratitude • sliding door moments that change everything for buyers, from rates to family timing • how rising mortgage interest rates affect payments and why sellers must price with buyer fragility in mind • the dream of a mountain sanctuary property and what it teaches us about timing and preparation Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue 0:00 Welcome And A Sick Day Pivot 3:05 Two Households And Why It Works 9:05 Dating Apps And Real Estate Leads 15:05 The House Search Reality Check 21:35 Stewardship Over The Ripcord Move 27:15 Resistance And The Flood Story 33:35 Rates Shift And Buyers Get Wobbly 37:45 The Sanctuary Ranch Dream And Timing

Rising Rates & Inflation: How to Win in a Price-Sensitive Market

The latest St. George Real Estate Morning Drive addresses rising gas prices and increasing mortgage interest rates, prompting discussions about potential economic slowdown. We analyze the current real estate market analysis, considering inflation and its impact on economic growth. This episode provides local news and insights for real estate investing in the region. We break down why waiting for the perfect moment backfires, how rate changes hit buying power, and what sellers must do to win in a price sensitive St. George market. • why gas prices and mortgage rates can move together • what our pending contracts say about real demand • why rate sensitivity fades but affordability math stays • why timing the market is mostly luck • what major forecasts say about rates through 2026 and 2027 • how a half point rate jump cuts buying power and raises payments • what “price sensitive” looks like for buyers and sellers • why more homes are selling below original list price • how to get top dollar with condition, pricing, and urgency • why 3% mortgage rates are not coming back • what rising foreclosures really mean when equity is high Visit us at goorge.com or Google the Larkin Group. We're happy to visit about it. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue 00:00 Gas And Rates Hit Hard 05:38 Timing The Market Is Delusion 10:15 How Rates Cut Buying Power 12:05 Why Sellers Face Price Sensitivity 17:35 How To Price For Urgency 20:45 Why 3% Mortgages Won’t Return 22:05 Foreclosures Up Slightly Equity Still High

Should You Buy in St. George, Utah Right Now?

The St. George real estate market "crashed" according to headlines. The actual data tells a completely different story. Sellers pricing correctly still get 98% of asking price. Inventory is up, buyers are selective, but the market isn't broken—it's just punishing unrealistic sellers. Here's what's really happening in Washington County using real MLS data, not clickbait. National Fear vs Local Reality: National media screams "housing crash." St. George data shows prepared sellers closing at 98% of list price. The gap between headlines and reality has never been wider. We translate the big national stats into something you can actually use for YOUR decision. What Actually Drives Moves (Hint: Not Interest Rates): Lifestyle wins. Family transitions, pace of life, seasons, and the kind of place you want to wake up matter more than rate changes. We break down why people really move and how that shapes local demand in St. George. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue 0:00 A Market Surprise And Quick Hellos 4:15 Why Lifestyle Beats Interest Rates 5:30 National Numbers Versus Local Reality 10:10 Price Tier Data Using Area Pro 18:53 Unrealistic Sellers And Buyer Behavior 22:54 The Three Takeaways And Next Steps