Happy Sunday, and welcome to Benzinga’s financial advisor newsletter.

Today we're discussing the housing market. Uncertainty about the housing market is at a three-year high, with most buyers unsure if now is the right time to purchase. Many prospective buyers are delaying their purchase but staying financially prepared by saving, reducing debt, and monitoring interest rates

Plus, a look back at the last week of market activity.

Table of Contents

• Industry Chatter

• Weekly Market Recap

• The Week Ahead

INDUSTRY CHATTER

Homebuyers Are Waiting — But They're Not Sitting Still

If you're feeling unsure about the housing market right now, you're not alone. Between high prices, rising interest rates, and economic uncertainty, many people are wondering whether now is the right time to buy a home. And while some are holding off, plenty of prospective buyers are using this time to prepare — saving more, paying down debt, and watching the market closely.

A new report from Bank of America confirms this mixed sentiment. The 2025 Homebuyer Insights Report found that 60% of current homeowners and prospective buyers say they’re not sure if it’s a good time to buy — the highest level of uncertainty in three years. That’s up from 48% in 2023. Despite this, more than half (52%) of potential buyers feel the market has improved since last year, and 75% say they’re waiting for prices and interest rates to come down before making a move.

In the meantime, many are taking practical steps. Over half of those delaying a purchase are continuing to save for a down payment. Others are using the time to pay off debt or invest their money while they wait.

Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are finding creative ways to move closer to homeownership. In 2025, 30% of Gen Z homeowners said they took on an extra job to afford their down payment, and 22% bought their home with a sibling — a notable increase from previous years. Family support is also playing a bigger role, with more young buyers planning to rely on loans from relatives.

Another factor on buyers’ minds? Severe weather. The report found that 62% of homeowners and prospective buyers are concerned about natural disasters, and many are adjusting their home search to avoid high-risk areas.

Overall, the housing market remains uncertain — but many buyers are staying optimistic and taking steps to be ready when the time feels right.

WEEKLY MARKET RECAP

Magnificent Seven Drive Wall Street's Rally, Nvidia Notches Best Month In A Year

A gauge tracking the so-called “magnificent seven” — which includes Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Nvidia Corp., Amazon.com Inc.. Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Tesla Inc. — surged 15% in May.

The rally coincided with an especially solid month for U.S. equities. The S&P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, surged more than 6% for the month. That’s its strongest month since November 2023.

But beneath the surface is Apple's rare underperformance.

Six out of the magnificent seven tech giants logged monthly gains. The iPhone maker, however, lagged its peers and delivered its weakest relative performance against the S&P 500 Index since 2018.

In contrast, Nvidia posted a staggering 24% monthly jump — its best performance since May 2024 — after delivering better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

Despite facing export restrictions on its chips to China, Nvidia's revenue resilience confirmed that artificial intelligence demand remains healthy. Overall revenue reached $44.1 billion, up 69% from a year ago.

"Countries around the world are recognizing AI as essential infrastructure — just like electricity and the internet — and Nvidia stands at the center of this profound transformation," CEO Jensen Huang said.

While Wall Street paints a positive picture, Main Street tells a different story, as pessimism among U.S. consumers runs high.

The U.S. economy contracted by 0.2% in the first quarter, a slight upward revision from the initial -0.3% estimate, yet a stark reversal from the 2.4% growth rate seen in late 2024. Inflation, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, cooled to 2.1% in April — its lowest pace in six months — from 2.3% in March.

But the public doesn’t seem to trust the disinflation narrative.

According to the University of Michigan's May survey, Americans expect inflation to run at 6.6% over the next year, the highest level since 1981. That figure reflects the widest gap ever recorded between perceived and actual inflation. Meanwhile, overall sentiment remains near three-year lows.

In a notable development on the trade front, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down significant portions of President Donald Trump's newly proposed tariff actions.

While the move sparked brief investor optimism, analysts caution the Trump administration retains various legal avenues to reintroduce similar trade barriers.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Broadcom, lululemon and DocuSign report earnings, US Fed chair Powell speaks, interest rate decision, and more

Economic Data

• Monday: US Fed chair Powell speaks and manufacturing PMI

• Tuesday: EUR CPI, US job openings and factory orders

• Wednesday: CAN BoC interest rate decision, US ADP employment

• Thursday: US initial jobless claims, EUR ECB Interest Rate Decision

• Friday: US employment report and consumer credit

Earnings

• Monday: The Campbell's Company (CPB), Science Applications International (SAIC)

• Tuesday: CrowdStrike (CRWD), Dollar General (DG)

• Wednesday: Haleon (HLN), Dollar Tree (DLTR)

• Thursday: Broadcom (AVGO), lululemon athletica (LULU), DocuSign (DOCU)

• Friday: Cheetah Mobile (CMCM), ABM Industries (ABM)

Click here for the full calendar of economic data and earnings reports.

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