Part 3/12:
Interestingly, some recent reports paint a more optimistic picture. CNBC and other industry sources cite that many housing numbers indicate an "unusually strong" buyer market. However, a closer examination reveals caveats. Real estate firms are witnessing the impact of affordability constraints, with home prices still rising modestly — about 1.2% year-over-year as of September — although this is a slowdown from previous years.