As agents, we get asked this question constantly—at open houses, family gatherings, or random texts from old friends: “So… how’s the market?”
It’s easy to default to answers like, “It’s crazy right now!” or “I’m staying busy!” But those types of responses don’t build trust, show your value, or open the door to real conversations. They miss an opportunity to position you as the local expert.
Here’s how to elevate your response and use this question as a relationship-building tool:
- Clarify Their Intent: Instead of jumping into a generic reply, pause and ask, “It depends—are you asking as a homeowner, investor, or just curious?” Follow it up with something like, “What’s happening nationally is very different from what we’re seeing here in [your city].”
- Lean Into Emotion and Real Examples: Facts are helpful, but emotion creates connection. Try something like: “It really feels like a tale of two markets right now. Buyers finally have more options and negotiating room, but in the right neighborhoods, sellers still hold the advantage. I just showed a home in [neighborhood] that had three offers its first weekend because it was dialed in and priced right. Meanwhile, a nearly identical home one street over has had no activity. Strategy still matters.” This makes your expertise tangible.
- Highlight the opportunities: “I’ve helped five buyers this month lock in homes with seller credits—something we rarely saw last year. It’s not about waiting for the perfect market, it’s about identifying the opportunities.”
Every “how’s the market” question is an opening. With the right response, you can turn a passing conversation into an opportunity to showcase your expertise that may turn into something more – whether it be with the person you are interacting with or their friend who mentions to them a week from now that they are looking to buy. Ditch the vague one-liners and start sounding like the local expert everyone should choose to work with!