Mercury Retrograde: The Real Estate Edition

Understanding Mercury Retrograde

From November 9 to November 29, 2025, Mercury retrograde takes place along with its shadow periods: October 21 to November 8 and December 1 to December 16.

I’ve talked plenty about Mercury retrograde before, but this round we’re zooming in on real estate agents, sales pros, and their clients. Because nothing screams “yes, let’s make the largest financial decision of our lives” like a planet moonwalking across the sky.

quick Refresher

If you somehow missed the memo: Mercury appears to move backwards, and when it does, anything tied to communication, documents, travel, learning, or tech decides to throw a tantrum. For real estate professionals, the chaos usually looks like:

• Unstable pipelines

• Messy paperwork

• Missing signatures

• Clients ghosting you

• Emails that vanish into the abyss

• Transaction hand-offs that fall apart for no good reason

What to Expect When Mercury's in Retrograde

Communication turns into a cosmic game of telephone. Here’s how it tends to play out in real estate:

• Contracts Gone Wild: Typos, missing initials, and abbreviations that no one agrees on. Double-check everything and get a second (or third) set of eyes before anyone signs.

• Miscommunication Mayhem: Explaining complex real estate concepts during Mercury RX is like trying to teach a cat to fetch...it can happen, but bring patience. If the deal involves multiple properties, creative financing, trusts, estates, or probate, come prepared to give everyone an emotional support snack.

• Technology Tantrums: Emails disappear, phones glitch, photos don’t send. Confirm that your messages actually sent, your texts were received, and your property photos didn’t come out like they were taken by a toddler.

Turning Setbacks into Opportunities

Don’t just curse the planets—use the retrograde to your advantage:

• Embrace the Chaos: Clean up the CRM, organize your digital files, refresh your marketing. This is prime housekeeping time.

• Over-Communicate: Yes, it’s annoying. No, you’re not being dramatic. Clarify everything and document all communication with clients, lenders, inspectors, and title partners.

• Follow Up Like a Pro: Past clients are more reflective during Mercury RX. Reach out. They might even be ready to sell, especially those who originally purchased during a previous retrograde. Mercury’s retrograde schedule is generous: 3-4 times per year, 3-4 weeks at a time. Odds are good you’ve got at least one retrograde buyer in your files.

So…What Should You Actually Do During This Time?

Reconnect with Past Clients

A simple check-in via text, email, or call goes far. Ask:

• How’s the home working out?

• Still meeting your needs?

• If you had to do it again, would you pick the same property?

• Anything I could’ve done better during the process?

Review Contracts and Agreements

Retrogrades are notorious for misunderstandings. Review current contracts for accuracy and clarity. With new ones, slow down. A missing initial or transposed address can stall a transaction for days or weeks. Put effort in on the front end so you aren’t putting out dumpster fires later.

Prepare for Slowdowns

Use the lull wisely:

• Update marketing

• Polish your listing presentations

• Refresh your online presence

• Take a class, watch a webinar, or actually finish that book you bought six months ago

This prep pays off once Mercury gets its act together.

What to Avoid During Mercury Retrograde

Major Decisions

Try not to launch big projects, sign major contracts, or drop a ton of cash right now. Miscommunication and oversight risks are high. If a client wants to charge forward, insist on:

• Contract cancellation clauses

• Full property inspections (espicially for mechanicals)

• Loan pre-approval

• Completed disclosures

• HOA docs

• Title insurance review

• A home warranty

Yes, these are standard, but during Mercury RX, you verify like a paranoid detective.

Assuming Anything

If someone utters “I just assumed…” stop the process. Clarify everything. Repeat yourself. Put details in writing. Repeat again. Your mildly neurotic communication style is justified right now.

Leveraging Mercury Retrograde for Your Business

Reflect and Reassess

Look honestly at your business. What’s working? What isn’t? Maybe your follow-up sucks. Maybe your retention rate could be higher. The Retrograde is great for strategic cleanup.

Engage Existing Clients

Keep them close. Send a quarterly market update, offer helpful tips, or plan a client appreciation moment. Relationships built now can turn into referrals later.

Embracing the Energy

Patience + Adaptability

Yes, Mercury RX can be a pain in the ass. But it also forces you to slow down, be thorough, and build resilience. Notice your patterns. Tighten your approach. The comeback always hits harder when you’ve handled the mess like a pro.

Lean on Your Network

Talk to fellow agents. Compare experiences. Form a mastermind group or accountability circle. Share what’s working and what’s not. There’s power in community—especially when the universe is being chaotic.

Navigating the Challenges

Mercury retrograde can complicate deals, but it also spotlights opportunities. With the right strategy (reconnection, thoroughness, preparation) you can use this period to strengthen your business instead of stalling it.

As the next Mercury retrograde approaches (November 9–29, 2025, with shadow periods before and after), stay proactive and detail-obsessed. Reflect, review, refine, and adjust.

Lastly, it's wise to enlist the services of a professional Astrologer who can tell you more about the specific focus, nature, and temperment of the retrograde. By looking at all the planets in the sky alongside your birth date, it's easy to build a custom retrograde roadmap.

With smart planning, you won’t just survive the retrograde...you’ll convert it into a competitive advantage.