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Housing affordability remains a central focus in Washington, DC, and Nashville has felt the crisis firsthand. Following significant public and industry pushback on the proposed 50-year mortgage, the administration has shifted its focus to exploring portable and assumable mortgage options. A portable mortgage would allow a homeowner to transfer their existing loan – and its lower interest rate- to a new property, potentially easing the “lock-in” effect that keeps many homeowners from selling. More than half of US homeowners currently hold rates below 4%, creating a major barrier to mobility.

In January of this year, I began my one-year term serving as the president of Greater Nashville REALTORS®, a title I’ve gained immense pride from over the course of 2025. Just a few weeks ago, I attended my final event as president of this world-class association, which serves more than 6,800 Realtors across Middle Tennessee, at our annual Member Luncheon and Board of Directors Installation.

Throughout the year, I’ve shared concerns about housing affordability in Nashville and beyond. For many residents, buying a home feels out of reach, and that reality is not getting any closer as home prices continue to rise and interest rates remain above six percent.

The 2025 housing market can largely be summed up in one word: expensive. For many Middle Tennessee residents and people across the country, especially younger Americans, homeownership is slipping further out of reach.

As a twenty-something Realtor in Middle Tennessee, few headlines have hit me quite like the recent report naming 40 as the new average age of a first-time homebuyer. It’s a statistic that stopped nearly everyone in our industry in their tracks, but for those of us on the ground, it only confirms the reality we've been living in since post-COVID.

Access to affordable housing is a cornerstone of a strong and successful community. It affects nearly every part of our economy, from how businesses recruit and retain workers to the overall quality of life for residents.

Federal programs critical to the U.S. housing market are set to resume after the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislation to fund the government and end the longest shutdown in American history.

As we move through the final quarter of 2025, it is a good time to take stock of where Nashville’s economy and housing market stand. According to the latest data from our partners at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the region continues to demonstrate solid economic fundamentals that are helping create a more balanced housing market and more opportunities for buyers.

That half-empty office building on your commute with a shiny “Coming Soon: Luxury Apartments” banner isn’t just another facelift—it’s part of a nationwide transformation. In 2025 alone, a record 70,700 office units are being converted to housing, reshaping urban markets and creating new opportunities for residential brokers.

As a REALTOR® for more than a decade, I have both experienced and heard from countless residents about the growing challenge of affordability in our city—especially when it comes to housing.

The housing market this year, on a national scale, has been unpredictable—especially for sellers. Many homes are staying on the market longer than in previous years, prompting some sellers to lower their prices or even pull their listings altogether. Others, particularly those who’ve priced competitively, are still selling within weeks and with few complications.

When most people think of real estate investments, they think of houses. But there’s a whole other world out there—and it’s commercial.