Zonda’s October 2025 Homebuyer Outlook reveals that new-home shopper demand has dropped to its lowest point since 2022, as affordability pressures and economic uncertainty continue to weigh on buyers.
Across the nation’s top 50 markets, click activity on NewHomeSource.com—a leading indicator of demand—was down 16% year over year and 58% below its 2022 peak. Despite the slowdown, select markets are showing resilience.
Even as overall traffic softened, certain regions saw notably strong conversion activity, or the rate at which online home shoppers requested in-person tours. Houston and Atlanta stood out, recording near-record highs for buyer engagement despite broader headwinds.
On the lifestyle side, community amenities are increasingly shaping buyer decisions. Pools have become the dominant feature among home shoppers, appearing in more than half of all amenity-related searches and far outpacing interest in gated or waterfront communities.
Together, the findings suggest that while overall demand has cooled, intent remains high among qualified buyers, particularly in regions that combine lower costs, lifestyle appeal, and builder incentives to keep sales momentum alive.
Follow this link to the full report.
