Sales up, inventory up. What to tell both sides.

Existing-home sales rose 3.2% in May, hitting a five-month high. At the same time, inventory kept building. That's the kind of balance that gets deals done. Your buyers have more to choose from without getting into bidding wars on every listing. Your sellers are seeing real activity again, not just tire-kickers waiting for rates to fall another point.

The rate story helps, too. Today's average rate is 6.375%, down from where we were a week ago. The government's borrowing cost (the 10-year Treasury) dropped about 10 basis points on Thursday, and mortgage rates usually follow. If a client is on the fence, remind them: rates move fast, and inventory won't stay this balanced forever. The spring that never quite showed up is finally here.