Redfin's New Data Shows Real Estate Loophole (+ 3 Strategies To Use)

I've been analyzing real estate market data for years, but something really strange is happening in the market right now, and it's creating opportunities I haven't seen since 2008. There’s a real estate loophole unfolding that could create massive real estate opportunities—but only if you know how to play it. 

And no, I’m not talking about some shady trick or secret club for billionaires. I’m talking about a legitimate shift in the market that most people are completely missing.

I’ll show you what’s happening, why it makes zero sense on the surface, and how you can use it to your advantage—even if you’ve never done a deal before. Oh, and I’ll also drop three home-buying strategies that I’m using right now. Let’s go.

The Numbers That Are Freaking Everyone Out

Let’s start with the Redfin report that just dropped. You’d think with all the talk about a real estate crash or a home prices crash, we’d be seeing sellers scrambling to cut deals left and right. But that’s not what’s happening at all.

Here’s what the numbers are showing:

• Houses are now sitting on the market for an average of 54 days. Compare that to the buying frenzy during the pandemic when homes were gone in under 30 days.

• Inventory has hit 5.2 months of housing supply, which is the highest we’ve seen in years.

• The median monthly mortgage payment is now $2,753, with rates hovering around 7%. That’s near a record high.

• Sales have plummeted 99.4%—one of the worst drops since September 2023.

So what does all this mean? Well, if you just glanced at this data, you’d assume we’re in the middle of a complete real estate crash. Buyers are backing off, homes are sitting longer, and sales are tanking. That should mean prices are dropping too, right?

Nope.

Sellers are raising their prices. The Redfin data shows that home prices are up 5.2% year over year, despite fewer buyers in the market. And if that makes absolutely no sense to you, you’re not alone.

Here’s where it gets even weirder. While Redfin data paints this grim picture, the National Association of Realtors just reported something different:

• Home sales jumped 4.8% in November—the first increase since 2021.

• Builder confidence is at a three-year high.

• Buyers are finally accepting mortgage rates between 6-7% and returning to the market.

So let’s recap:

• Sellers are holding out for higher prices, even though their homes are sitting for nearly two months.

• Buyers are slowly coming back, even with high rates.

• Builders are ramping up construction.

This contradiction is exactly why a real estate market loophole is opening up. And if you know what you’re doing, you can take full advantage of it.

Why This Loophole Creates a Massive Opportunity

Here’s the thing: Most people are sitting on the sidelines trying to figure out whether this is a real estate crash or a recovery. But that’s the wrong question.

The real question is: How do you use this strange market to make a deal?

Right now, we’re in a rare moment where you’ve got:

• Sellers who have been sitting on homes for months and are getting nervous.

• Buyers starting to re-enter the market, creating more demand.

• Builders increasing inventory, which puts even more pressure on sellers.

The key? Creative financing.

See, while everyone else is stuck in traditional buying and selling methods, there’s a way to structure deals that work for both buyers and sellers—even in this messy market. And I’ve got three strategies that are working right now.

3 Creative Home Buying Strategies for This Market

1. The 40-Year Play

Instead of negotiating on price, you negotiate on terms.

Right now, my students and I are approaching sellers who’ve been stuck for two months and saying:

"Hey, you can have your price, but let’s stretch it over 40 or 50 years instead of the usual 15 or 30."

The result?

• The seller gets their number—which keeps them happy.

• The buyer gets lower payments—which makes the deal actually affordable.

It’s a total win-win. And in a market like this, sellers are a lot more open to creative financing than they used to be.

2. The Escalator

This one’s my favorite because it sounds crazy, but it works.

Instead of locking in today’s 7% rates, you start at 2% (yep, really) and slowly step it up over time.

When you reach full market rates, you’ve probably already refinanced into a better deal anyway.

It’s a way to get in now, keep payments low initially, and ride out this weird market shift without getting crushed.

3. The Split

This one is brilliant. You split the interest rate payment.

• You pay half monthly.

• The other half gets deferred until you sell or refinance.

So your payments stay low, and the seller still gets their full return.

Again, in a normal market, sellers wouldn’t go for this. But right now? When they’ve been waiting 54 days with no offers? They’re open to real estate investing strategies they never would’ve considered before.

How to Capitalize on This Loophole Today

If you’re looking for ways to invest in real estate without getting crushed by high rates, this is your moment. But you have to move before the window closes.

One of the biggest barriers people run into when trying to use real estate investing strategies like these is capital. But here’s the thing—there’s actually a way to get funding without paying interest or fees. It’s called No Cost Capital, and it’s a complete game-changer.

With No Cost Capital, you can eliminate financial barriers in one application, so you can:

• Flip properties

• Cover operational costs

• Expand your marketing efforts

This is a huge advantage, especially in today’s market, where opportunities are everywhere, but traditional lenders are making things harder.

Another major piece of the puzzle is automating your real estate business. That’s where Epic Blackbook comes in. It’s an all-in-one platform built specifically for real estate investing, giving you everything from CRM management to automated follow-ups to keep your deals moving.

This Window Of Opportunity Will Eventually Close

So, what do we make of this real estate market update?

On one hand, we’ve got home prices rising, sellers holding out, and homes sitting longer. On the other, we’ve got buyers coming back, builders ramping up, and mortgage rates still high.

But instead of trying to predict the housing market 2025, the smart move is to leverage this real estate loophole while it’s still open.

If you’re serious about investing in real estate, this is the time to get creative. And if you’re looking for an edge, check out No Cost Capital for funding and Epic Blackbook for automation.