Wisconsin REALTORS® Association Releases August 2025 Real Estate Report
Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA) released its August 2025 Wisconsin Real Estate Report today, revealing that existing home sales increased by a modest 1.8% relative to August 2024. Meanwhile, the statewide median home price rose 5.3% to $338,000. Affordability was essentially unchanged, falling just 0.1% since August 2024, and the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate remained elevated, from 6.50% in August 2024 to 6.59% in August 2025. Year-to-date, home sales increased 1.1% compared to the first eight months of 2024.
Chris DeVincentis, 2025 Chair of the Board of Directors, Wisconsin REALTORS®
Association, highlighted that “the more densely populated metropolitan counties have just 3.6 months of supply. By comparison, the counties with smaller cities and towns had 4.3 months of supply, and rural counties had 5.7 months of supply in August. Potential buyers will find better opportunities in those less urban markets.”
Tom Larson, President & CEO, Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, noted signs of a softening housing market: “Improving inventory, moderating price appreciation and increasing days on the market are signs that the strong seller’s markets we’ve seen over the last few years continue to soften. This is welcomed news for young families still struggling to buy their first home.”
David Clark, Professor Emeritus of Economics and WRA Consultant, noted potential lowered mortgage rates: “Weak labor market reports resulted in a quarter-point cut in the short-term federal funds rate in September, with additional cuts likely in the last two meetings for the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee in October and December. While mortgage rates track longer-term rates, such as the 10-year treasury bill, which more closely align with the average term of a mortgage, the Fed is clearly concerned about recession, which can drive down treasury bill yields and lead to lower mortgage rates.”
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Existing home sales in Wisconsin rose 1.8% in August compared to last year, with the median price increasing 5.3% to $338,000. Year-to-date sales are up 1.1%, and the median price is up 5.2% to $325,000.
- From May-August, which typically accounts for about 43% of closings, sales increased 3.3% compared to last year. Listings grew 4.9% and housing supply rose 5.1%, but the market remains tilted toward sellers with just 4.1 months of supply, below the six-month benchmark for balance.
- The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased slightly from 6.50% last year to 6.59% this August, increasing by 9 basis points.
- Homes were on the market an average of 69 days, up 4.5%, with the North region averaging 86 days and the West region averaging 81 days.
- Affordability held steady, down just 0.1%, as rising prices and mortgage rates offset a 4.8% increase in median family income.
