Buyers or sellers market?

Across the U.S., the housing market has shifted from a strong seller’s market into one that’s clearly more favorable to buyers. Here's a breakdown of the current landscape:

Why It's Now a Buyer’s Market Nationally

1. Inventory Is Rising
   • Active listings are up nearly 29% year-over-year; spring 2025 saw record-high supply moving toward pre-pandemic levels. Reddit+15Realtor+15Norada Real Estate+15.
   • Realtor.com data calls it a "buyer-friendly direction," noting longer time on the market. Norada Real Estate+1New York Post+1.
2. Sellers Outnumber Buyers
   • There are approxim ately 1.9 million active sellers vs. 1.5 million buyers, marking the largest imbalance since 2013.  HousingWire+1FingerLakes1+1.
   • This gap is putting downward pressure on prices, with some expecting a ~1% dip in home values by year-end. MarketWatch+11Reddit+11rei-lense.com+11.
3. Slower Sales & More Delistings
   • Homes are taking about 53 days to sell, a 5-day increase from last year MarketWatch+1New York Post+1Realtor.
   • Price reductions are rising, and many sellers are even pulling their listings in hope of relisting later MarketWatch+1Stock Titan+1.
4. Mortgage Rates Still High
   • Rates remain in the 6–7% range, limiting affordability and keeping many buyers sidelined. The Times+15Investopedia+15Wall Street Journal+15ABC News+15LinkedIn+15Norada Real Estate+15.
   • But slight recent drops are hoped to boost market activity by 2026. Investopedia.

Regional Variations:

• Sun Belt metros (e.g., Miami, Austin, Jacksonville) are strongly favoring buyers, with seller surplus ranging from 120–200%. FingerLakes1+1HousingWire+1.

• A few areas, such as Newark and parts of the Midwest/Northeast, remain more balanced or marginally seller-favorable. FingerLakes1.

What This Means for You

• As a Buyer:
  • You now have more options, stronger negotiation power, and the ability to request concessions such as repairs, rate buydowns, or closing cost help veravitare.com+1Spreaker+1.
• As a Seller:
  • You’ll need to be strategic with pricing and differentiate your listing—through quality staging, flexible terms, or financial incentives—to attract buyers in a cooling market Reddit+2Reddit+2rei-lense.com+2.

Outlook

• The market is expected to remain buyer-friendly through 2025, with modest inventory dips and price flattening.
• A potential mortgage rate reduction later this year could shift balance slightly, but not enough to return to seller dominance New York Post+15Investopedia+15Realtor+15Industry Intel.

Bottom line:
It’s now a buyer’s market nationwide, though conditions vary by area. If you're buying, it's a smart time to act. If you're selling, patience plus smart positioning is key.