Uncertainty about the economy, increased tariffs, and weakened consumer confidence have been in the headlines for months since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. That uncertainty has also trickled down to homebuyers and sellers, but agents said the Intown market is holding steady despite the economic shockwaves.
We talked to four seasoned real estate agents to get their take on the Intown market, what’s selling, and what buyers are looking for as they navigate shifting political winds and higher interest rates.
Maggie Jones
Realtor Maggie Jones with Ansley Real Estate Christie’s International Real Estate said experienced agents have become very familiar with navigating uncertainty in the market.
“We’ve been through plenty of economic shifts, and yet the Intown market continues to hold steady,” she said. “ Homes generally move quickly, many closing in under 30 days, and we’re still seeing multiple offers on well-priced listings.
Jones said buyers interested in Intown areas understand the value of the neighborhoods, and that keeps things moving “even when the national news feels a little rocky.”
While January started off slow, which isn’t unusual, Jones said her first and second quarters have been the busiest of her career.
“Buyer activity is strong, listings that are priced correctly are moving, and there’s a real energy in the market right now that will hopefully continue for the balance of the year,” Jones said.
Low inventory contributes to a steady market even if the state of the economy and interest rates are in flux, Jones noted. “But for the record, I will speak for everyone that we would welcome lower interest rates ASAP!”
Jones said she expects the rest of 2025 to remain steady, and she’s watching new developments that are sure to entice buyers.
“An exciting development to watch is the Gulch [Centennial Yards] and the South Downtown District’s resurgence,” she said. “The developers of Atlanta Tech Village, along with others, are realizing the potential in the area. It will be awesome to see how transforming this part of town to something out-of-towners and locals can appreciate.”
Meanwhile, Jones said Atlanta continues its love affair with single-family homes, but said condos and townhomes are getting more attention.
“They’re often a more affordable way to live Intown and offer the low-maintenance lifestyle a lot of buyers are looking for,” she said. “So really, it depends on your budget and your vibe – there really is something for everyone.”
Buyers specifically looking for condos in the 30308 and 30309 zip codes are definitely in luck, since the supply of units currently exceeds demand. Jones said there’s a 10-month supply of inventory in Midtown, which is “great news for buyers as they have more negotiating power when it comes time to make an offer on condos.”
Arvie Magnuson
Realtor Arvie Magnuson with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty said, although his transaction volume was down compared to this time last year, he hasn’t had any clients preparing to buy or sell change course due to the economic news.
“There were already reasons to be on the fence about a move before the election, mainly high interest rates relative to what most sellers currently have on their existing mortgage, Magnuson said.” With the new administration, I can only assume many folks decided to take a wait-and-see approach. It did not help that interest rates became more volatile and have still not come down much.”
And Magnuson said just because his transaction volume is down, he would not call the market weak. “Good properties are still receiving multiple offers,” he said. “I expect that to continue.”
Among those competitive properties are those with access to the Atlanta Beltline and great neighborhood schools, but noted that buyer appetite for major renovation projects is low in the market.
While condo and townhome buyers have more choices in the Intown market, Magnuson said the shortage of inventory remains “acute” for single-family homes.
Adam Ballenger
An associate broker with Engle & Volkers Atlanta, Adam Ballenger said while he’s seen uncertainty among clients due to the economic woes, some see it as an opportunity especially with the uptick he’s seeing in inventory.
“I have more listings now and ones coming soon than I ever have before,” Ballenger said. “You want to have your home move-in ready because that is what today’s buyer is looking for.”
Ballenger said inventory has increased over the last year, but pricing has not changed, mostly in hot markets. He said any neighborhood in a good school district, Inman Park, Midtown, and Buckhead are all stable.
Some of the hot developments Ballenger has his eye on are 40 West 12th, which is already 90% sold, and Downing Park in Druid Hills, which has all of its townhomes under contract and only four single-family homes left at the time of publication.
Ballenger noted that most of his clients are cash buyers, “so interest rates aren’t as important, but the feeling of security is important to those buyers. With a volatile market, consumer confidence is important.”
Condo owners looking to sell their units might have more of a challenge right now, Ballenger said.
“Rising costs of HOAs and certain insurance deductibles are making condos more difficult to sell,” he said. “We are noticing an uptick in the appreciation rate for single-family homes, thus single-family is always the wisest investment.”
Harvin Greene
Realtor Harvin Greene with Dorsey Alston Realtors made her own headlines in 2024 for two record-breaking real estate transactions in Buckhead and Druid Hills, but like the other agents we spoke with, she’s optimistic despite the shifting economy.
“We have seen some hesitancy around buyers making offers as they have been unsure of how things will play out in the world,” Greene said. “However, this seems to have stabilized as the news cycles have changed and the stock market has recovered.”
Greene said interest rates are still a hot topic, but buyers are getting used to the higher rates and there are more creative lending options, including temporary rate buy downs.
“We are also seeing more bridge loans that allow buyers to find a home before selling theirs, which is helpful,” she said.
Greene explained that Atlanta’s normal “Spring Market” historically begins in late January/early February.
“People tend to emerge from the winter slump once the weather gets pretty and all the yards begin to green up,” she said. “This year, we had a lot of bad weather on top of the news cycles that seemed to delay things. Most of that is perception, as prices are up 3.6% year-to-date and sales are up 3.1% year-to-date, but homes are taking longer to sell – on average 42 days vs 35 days. All this leads to the indication that we are trending towards a more balanced market for buyers and sellers.”
As for the summer ahead, Greene said she expects a strong market. “We are already starting to see that now,” she said. “I think we will see less travel this year than we have seen in the last three years. Actually, 60 percent of sales occur in our market between June and December.”
Greene also echoed some of the same sentiments as other Realtors about the Intown condo market.
“There are issues with the warrantability of older buildings, which makes getting a mortgage challenging for new buyers,” she said. ‘The insurance companies don’t want to warrant the buildings until they make improvements, which can then affect the HOA dues and/or assessments. Condos are still selling, but we are seeing them on the market an average of 64 percent longer.”
