(The Epoch Times)—As of the week ending July 19, homes are sitting on the market for eight days longer, compared to a year ago, as buyers remain on the sidelines, according to a July 24 Weekly Housing Trends report on the real estate listings website Realtor.
The median time homes sat on the market hit 58 days nationally, which happened amid active inventory jumping nearly 25 percent year-over-year, the 89th consecutive week of annual gains.
“There were more than 1 million homes for sale again last week, marking the 11th week in a row over the threshold, and the highest inventory level since November 2019,” the report said.
Despite more inventory and choices for buyers, high home costs kept them at bay, it added.
“The lack of significant buyer response to substantial gains in for-sale inventory has pushed many sellers to reduce prices. The price reduction share reached roughly 1 in 5 homes in June, the highest June share in the data’s history.”
The report noted high mortgage rates as one of the reasons why many buyers are unable to take advantage of the current situation.
The weekly average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has remained above the 6 percent level since mid-September 2022, according to data from Freddie Mac. Since the beginning of this year, rates have remained above 6.5 percent every single week.
Meanwhile, the median sales price of new homes sold in the United States was $401,800 in June, up from $325,500 five years ago, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Since October 2021, the price has mostly remained above the $400,000 level.
This persistence in elevated home prices and mortgage rates creates an extremely difficult affordability challenge for prospective homebuyers.
In a July 17 post, the National Association of Realtors predicted that if the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates were to drop to 6 percent, then around 5.5 million more households would find the median-priced home affordable.
If rates were to hit this level, around 10 percent of these households are expected to buy homes within 12 to 18 months, the association said. At present, the mortgage rate stands at 6.74 percent.
Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at real estate data company Bright MLS, said in a July 24 commentary that mortgage rates are “not going to be anywhere close to hitting 6 percent this year.”
She suggested that the Federal Reserve may not bring down its benchmark interest rates in the near term, which would provide support for retaining mortgage rate levels.
The Fed’s interest rate has remained unchanged in a range of 4.25 to 4.5 percent since last year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has also given no indication that any rate cut is on the horizon.
In addition to rates, other factors are also creating sluggishness in the housing market, Sturtevant said.
“In a recent survey conducted by Bright MLS, we found that compared to a year ago, fewer buyers are holding back because of high mortgage rates. A growing share cited other financial issues and general economic uncertainty as the reasons they are not buying this year,” she wrote.
“So while 6 percent might seem to be a magic number for the housing market, there are a lot of other factors that are driving home buying and selling decisions in this shifting market.”
Meanwhile, buyers stand to gain from the current buyer-seller dynamics in the market, real estate brokerage Redfin said in a June 16 statement.
Home sellers are now outnumbering buyers, with many willing to negotiate and offer concessions, it said, adding that some sellers may also be willing to accept lower down-payments.
“The buyers who are moving forward today are being very careful with their finances because, with housing costs near record highs, they’re typically spending a big portion of their paycheck to buy a home,” said Fernanda Kriese, a Redfin Premier agent in Las Vegas.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.