Skip the term and explain the concept. If 10 homes sold last month and 20 are currently listed, the market would absorb existing inventory in two months, which tells a seller they have an edge. Most clients follow that logic without needing to hear the technical label.
Months of supply measures how long current inventory would last at the current sales pace, with no new listings added. Under three months typically signals a seller's market; over six typically signals a buyer's market. Frame it as "how much competition you're up against" and it clicks for most clients immediately.
Many agents build a short weekly habit: 15 minutes reviewing MLS summary stats for their core areas. Others use tools that surface key figures before client meetings, so they're ready to speak to current conditions without searching mid-conversation.
National data reflects averages across thousands of markets that behave very differently from one another. A market that appears to be cooling nationally may be competitive locally, or vice versa. Clients make decisions about specific homes in specific neighbourhoods, so the most useful data is always the most local data available.
That buyer across the kitchen table got a clear answer: not a hedge, not a printout to review later, but a direct explanation of what the market is doing and what it means for their search. Knowing the right numbers and how to frame them is what makes the difference. Worthington keeps that context organised and ready, so the knowledge is there whenever the conversation calls for it. If that sounds useful, worthington.ai is a good place to start.
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