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Bay Area homeowner has made an unusual request to Compass real estate agent Andrea Gordon: to put their home up for sale if Trump wins the presidential election. The client plans to move to Portugal if he becomes president. As the election approaches, anxiety is causing a chill in the local homebuying market. A Redfin survey found nearly a quarter of first-time buyers are holding off until after the election to make a purchase.

    Some real estate agents have noted a slowdown in the market in recent weeks. Gordon expects "relief and increased consumer confidence" if Harris wins, while a Trump presidency could lead to "extreme concern and fear." Following Trump's 2016 election, her area had depressed sales for six months. Agents say elections often have a cooling effect on the market.

    Buyers are craving certainty ahead of the election, said agent Michelle Harris. Even though open houses have been busy, there hasn't been much follow-up or movement from buyers. However, not all agents have noticed a slowdown in recent weeks. Some attribute it to seasonal patterns or "mortgage rate fatigue," rather than election anxiety.

    Real estate agent Max Armour believes it's a great time to buy, citing the market's tendency to move with a herd mentality. When buyers are pausing, opportunities arise. Paul Kitchen said his team has noticed some hesitation leading up to the election, largely through client conversations. At root is "anxiety about market volatility and distraction." The market thrives on relative certainty, making it less likely for people to commit to multimillion-dollar purchases when the future is uncertain.