Insights from Our Trip to America: Navigating a Changing Real Estate Market

Here’s what we observed, learned, and found particularly striking about how the U.S. market operates—and how it compares to the UK.

Arriving in Boston, a Democratic stronghold, the tension was palpable following Trump’s re-election. Many people I spoke to were deeply worried about the economic implications.

The sentiment was that the Biden administration had spent years cleaning up from Trump’s first term, only to now face the potential for further economic disruption.

Experts predict tough choices ahead: Trump could attempt to balance the books by slashing public spending, which would undoubtedly impact the economy and public services, or he might continue spending at current levels without raising taxes, exacerbating an already staggering deficit. Either path breeds uncertainty, which is never great for the housing market.

I spoke to US agents who noted how the political climate has already slowed the market, with properties lingering longer than usual and buyers hesitating to commit. It’s a sentiment we understand well — political and economic instability can cast a long shadow over property decisions. Our budget has had a similar impact in recent months.

One of the most fascinating insights was how different—and yet familiar—the U.S. housing market feels compared to the UK.

Agents told me this year has been tough. Properties are taking much longer to sell, not because of delays in the contractual process (as we often see in the UK), but because it’s taking longer to receive offers. This shift has been a real adjustment for U.S. agents, who aren’t used to the extended timescales we often encounter in the UK. Interestingly, we felt this might actually be a hidden advantage for us—working in a slower market is something we’ve had to master!

One common prediction is that the housing market may experience a short-term surge as pent-up demand is released following the election. However, this optimism is tempered by concerns about what happens after 2025, when political and economic realities could once again weigh on the market.

One major shift I learned about was the legal settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which is transforming how transactions are handled. Unlike the UK, where agents act solely for buyers or sellers with clear agreements, the U.S. system has historically been less transparent.

Agents often worked for both buyers and sellers in the same transaction, receiving commissions from multiple sources without disclosing them. This has now changed with the introduction of buyer agreements, requiring agents to declare any commissions they receive. While this seems perfectly logical to us, it’s a significant adjustment for U.S. agents, and many are undergoing training to navigate the new rules.

The parallels with our system—and the potential implications for the UK as we see more buying agents emerge—left me with much to think about. Transparency and trust are critical in any market, and we’ll be keeping an eye on how this unfolds.

We’ve always been curious about the symbiotic relationship between staging and real estate in the U.S., and my trip shed light on some key differences.

In occupied homes, many U.S. agents take on staging themselves as part of their service. They bring accessories, tweak the styling, and ensure properties are photo-ready—all included in their commission, typically around 5%. It’s a stark contrast to the UK, where staging is almost always a separate service. This hands-on approach explains why staging costs in the U.S. are relatively low and why so many properties are staged—agents are doing much of it themselves!

Professional stagers in the U.S. tend to focus on vacant homes, where their expertise is most needed. This aligns with our observations that staging in the US is less about tweaking and more about transforming empty spaces into aspirational homes.

I also noticed many agents market themselves as both realtors and stagers, especially women. It’s a model that intrigued us, as it highlights the benefits of combining skills to provide a comprehensive service. It’s something we could see becoming more common in the UK as agents look to differentiate themselves.

Visiting the U.S. gave us a fresh perspective on our own market. Here are a few things we’ll be keeping in mind:

My trip to the U.S. reinforced how universal some of the challenges in estate agency and staging are. Political uncertainty, economic pressures, and evolving client expectations shape the market on both sides of the Atlantic. What stood out most, though, was the adaptability and ingenuity of the professionals I met. Despite the challenges, they’re finding ways to thrive—and so are we.

Here’s to embracing change and learning from one another, wherever we are in the world!

Elaine Penhaul, Lemon + Lime.