{"id":101593,"date":"2026-05-18T17:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T00:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=101593"},"modified":"2026-05-18T17:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T00:55:27","slug":"is-it-a-buyers-or-sellers-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/is-it-a-buyers-or-sellers-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It a Buyer\u2019s or Seller\u2019s Market?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><b>Key takeaways<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>It\u2019s a buyer\u2019s market in a majority of U.S. housing markets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning homebuyers have the upper hand.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More buyers and sellers are returning to the market as economic worries ease, but record prices and elevated mortgage rates are keeping many on the sidelines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sun Belt is home to the strongest buyer\u2019s markets; the Midwest and Northeast are home to the remaining seller\u2019s markets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Housing markets vary widely, so take into account local market dynamics and talk with an agent to get the full picture<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The U.S. is in one of the strongest buyer\u2019s markets on record<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Following the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/housing-market-records-2021\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pandemic-fueled<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> seller\u2019s market in 2021, sellers now outnumber buyers by a record share\u2014more than 47%. In numeric terms, there are an estimated 1.48 million sellers and 1.01 million buyers in the market today. Generally, the greater the seller surplus, the stronger the buyer\u2019s market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the last two months, buyers and sellers have both started to come back (up 2% and 1.3% respectively) as economic unease cools. But at the core of the housing market is a historic affordability crisis, making it feel <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/buyers-market-february-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anything<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but buyer-friendly. Many consumers are still holding off, and those who can afford to buy often have the upper hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what to know about buyer\u2019s vs seller\u2019s markets, how to tell which market you\u2019re in, and where each side has the most leverage right now.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"datawrapper-vis-qyIfr\" style=\"min-height: 442px;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" defer src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/qyIfr\/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\" data-target=\"#datawrapper-vis-qyIfr\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/qyIfr\/full.png\" alt=\"Number of Buyers and Sellers in the Housing Market (Line chart)\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a buyer\u2019s market vs seller\u2019s market?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buyer\u2019s market\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A buyer\u2019s market typically happens when there are more homes for sale than buyers to purchase them. When this is the case, buyers usually drive negotiations and are more likely to receive concessions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home price growth is often lower in buyer&#8217;s markets than seller\u2019s markets. But if a buyer\u2019s market sees prices cool substantially, the pendulum may swing back toward sellers as more homebuyers come off the bench.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seller\u2019s market<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A seller\u2019s market usually occurs when demand exceeds supply. Buyers outnumber sellers, creating more competition and fueling bidding wars. Sellers typically lead negotiations in a seller&#8217;s market and see homes sell for above asking. House prices also tend to rise more quickly and sell faster.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>&gt;&gt; Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/disadvantages-of-sellers-paying-closing-costs\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">Disadvantages of Sellers Paying Closing Costs<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The strongest buyer\u2019s markets in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sellers outnumber buyers by the most in these ten metros, giving buyers more leverage. Redfin defined a buyer\u2019s market as one where sellers outnumbered buyers by at least 10%.<\/span><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/fA8DV\/full.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div id=\"datawrapper-vis-Qkchn\" style=\"min-height: 686px;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" defer src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Qkchn\/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\" data-target=\"#datawrapper-vis-Qkchn\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Qkchn\/full.png\" alt=\"The strongest buyer's markets in the U.S. (Table)\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sun Belt\u2014cities stretching from the Southeast to the Southwest\u2014is home to all of the nation\u2019s strongest buyer\u2019s markets. Miami sits firmly on top, while Austin is in third\u2014ground zero for the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/zoomtowns-real-estate-price-cuts-housing-market-winners-midwest-northeast-2025-10#:~:text=Take%20Austin.,of%202022%2C%20Zillow%20data%20shows.\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cooldowns<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sweeping pandemic boomtowns since 2022.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sun Belt skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic, when scores of homebuyers moved in from more expensive parts of the country, driving up housing costs and pricing many locals out of the market. They are now among the fastest-cooling markets in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Housing supply also plays a role. Florida and Texas in particular <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/us.census.bureau2\/viz\/shared\/N5JFHG657\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">saw a surge<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in homebuilding during the pandemic to meet demand, but many of these homes are now sitting unsold as buyers back off. Florida\u2019s housing inventory reached its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/florida-homes-for-sale-record-high\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">highest level on record<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2025, with demand dropping quickly due to rising prices, climate risks, and surging insurance costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The strongest seller\u2019s markets in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a handful of metros, buyers still outnumber sellers, giving sellers the edge. Redfin defined a seller\u2019s market as one where the buyers outnumbered sellers by at least 10%, and only seven metros made the cut.<\/span><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/bCnA5\/full.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div id=\"datawrapper-vis-LF2ZA\" style=\"min-height: 461px;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" defer src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/LF2ZA\/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\" data-target=\"#datawrapper-vis-LF2ZA\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/LF2ZA\/full.png\" alt=\"The strongest seller's markets in the U.S. (Table)\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Midwest and Northeast are home to nearly all of the remaining seller\u2019s markets. New construction has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/construction\/bps\/current.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lagged<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> here, and with more people <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/article\/2025-hottest-housing-markets-zillow-forecast\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">looking to move<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the region for homes they can afford, supply is falling far short of what\u2019s needed and pushing prices up. San Francisco has seen a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/san-francisco-home-prices-march-2026\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">surge in demand<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> largely due to AI wealth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because the number of buyers rose more than the number of sellers in April, sellers actually gained ground in 19 buyer\u2019s markets\u2014and two additional markets now favor sellers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What buyers should do right now<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>If you\u2019re buying in a buyer\u2019s market<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This is the ideal time for buyers to make a move, if you can afford to. Home prices may decline, listings stay on the market longer, and sellers are more likely to negotiate. You may see price reductions, seller concessions, or repairs included to close the deal. With less competition, buyers have more leverage to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-a-home\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">secure a home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at a better price.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>If you\u2019re buying in a seller\u2019s market: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sellers hold the upper hand, and competition among buyers can be fierce. Homes often sell quickly and attract multiple offers, which can drive prices well above asking. If you\u2019re buying in a seller\u2019s market, be prepared to act fast and make <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/making-an-offer-on-a-house\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strong offers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; trying to negotiate too aggressively could cost you the home.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>&gt;&gt; Read: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-a-house\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><b><i>Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House?<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What sellers should do right now<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>If you\u2019re selling in a buyer\u2019s market: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selling becomes more challenging when inventory is high and demand is low. Homes tend to sit on the market longer\u2014in fact, the typical home today takes over 60 days to sell, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/record-dollar-value-home-listings\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have sat for even longer. To attract buyers, sellers should price competitively and remain flexible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b style=\"font-style: inherit;\">If you\u2019re selling in a seller\u2019s market<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This is a great time to sell. Homes typically move quickly, and competition among buyers can lead to multiple offers, bidding wars, or offers above asking price. With high demand and limited inventory, sellers have the upper hand and are more likely to get favorable terms, including waived contingencies and minimal concessions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>&gt;&gt; Read: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/should-i-sell-my-house-now\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><b><i>Should I Sell My House Now?<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to tell if you\u2019re in a buyer\u2019s or seller\u2019s market<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if the national housing market favors buyers or sellers, individual cities and regions usually vary widely. Sometimes, even adjacent neighborhoods will have completely different trends. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to do your research to understand which way your market leans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few ways to stay ahead of the competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the Redfin Data Center<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redfin publishes its monthly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/data-center\/buyers-vs-sellers-dynamics\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">buyer vs. seller dynamics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> research to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/data-center\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redfin Data Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for public viewing. On the dashboard, you can see whether the national housing market\u2014and any of the 50 largest metros\u2014leans toward buyers or sellers. This is a good way to get a baseline picture of the housing market, but it may not reflect your neighborhood or include your city. That\u2019s where additional research and insight comes in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk with a local agent<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/real-estate-agents\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local real estate agents<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> know their market best. They have up-to-date knowledge on how long homes are sitting on the market, whether sellers are cutting prices, and how competitive offers are. An experienced agent can tell you if buyers have the upper hand or if sellers are still in control, and help you make informed decisions in your neighborhood.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research housing inventory<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A common way to gauge which way a market leans is to look at \u201cmonths of supply\u201d \u2014 the number of months it would take for available inventory to sell at the current rate. Supply below 4 months tends to favor sellers, while supply above 5 months tends to favor buyers. Redfin publishes this data on the Redfin Data Center for every city and metropolitan area in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track sale price trends<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Price growth often accelerates during a seller&#8217;s market and cools during a buyer&#8217;s market, sometimes even causing home prices to fall. If prices are growing and show no signs of slowing down, you could be in a seller\u2019s market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look at mortgage rates<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/todays-mortgage-rates\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mortgage rates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> play a huge role in the housing market. Typically, the higher the rates, the less buyers shop for homes, making sellers more desperate for offers. This is the case today, which is putting buyers in the driver\u2019s seat. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Looking forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economic uncertainty continues to throw a wrench into the housing market, with inflation, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/weekly-economic-update-march-23-2026\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iran war<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, tariffs, and immigration policy all playing a role. Homebuilding is also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nahb.org\/blog\/2025\/01\/cost-of-construction-survey-2024\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more expensive than ever<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, putting pressure on the nation\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/aging-housing-inventory\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aging<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> housing stock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are positives on the horizon. In part because housing costs are so high and so few homes are selling, price growth has slowed\u2014and in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/press-releases\/home-prices-tick-down-0-1-in-july-fall-in-39-of-the-top-50-u-s-metros\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some places<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they are falling. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/housing-market-predictions-2026\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redfin economists expect<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> price growth to slow further and affordability to improve in the coming years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prolonged seller\u2019s market is over, so serious buyers with the budget may want to act now while competition is low.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Methodology<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All data covers March 2026 and is seasonally adjusted, dating back to 2013. Please see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/buyer-vs-seller-methodology\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this article<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the full methodology, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/buyers-vs-sellers-march-2026\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for Redfin\u2019s most recent analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The housing market favors buyers, but prices remain out of reach \u2014 and now sellers are backing off. Here&#8217;s how to tell if you&#8217;re in a buyer&#8217;s or seller&#8217;s market, and which cities buck the trend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":559,"featured_media":101603,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[34276],"tags":[34618,34529,34622],"coauthors":[34342],"class_list":["post-101593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-home","tag-buying-definition","tag-buying-faq","tag-home-selling-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is It a Buyer\u2019s or Seller\u2019s Market? | Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The housing market favors buyers, but record prices are sidelining everyone. 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