After a decade of stability, the housing market became more volatile when inflation and mortgage rates started surging in 2022. Rising housing prices and mortgage rates have raised the cost of homeownership,

Still, by the end of the first quarter, the cash balance had grown to nearly $189 billion. By the second quarter, cash was up to roughly $277 billion. Cash increased again in the third quarter, hitting $325 billion. And Berkshire Hathaway's cash stockpile ended 2024 at a shockingly large $334 billion.

Warren Buffett has warned shareholders his time is nearly up, talked up his successor, and taken steps to protect Berkshire Hathaway and his legacy.