Housing Market Shift: Buyers Gain Power

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News Flash

Seller Surplus Tsunami: Housing Market Tilts as Buyers Go MIA

The numbers are in, and they're telling a story the real estate industry hasn't seen in over a decade. There are nearly 500,000 more homes listed for sale than pending sales across the U.S. market—the largest gap recorded since 2013.

Let's break down what's really happening: analysis shows a whopping 34% more homes available than are being purchased. That's fundamentally altering the market dynamic we've grown accustomed to in recent years. [Source]

Why the sudden shift? It's a perfect storm of factors:

• Elevated home prices that continue to stretch budgets

• Stubbornly high mortgage interest rates

• Broader economic uncertainties making buyers hesitant

This new reality is particularly visible in previously hot markets across the Sun Belt and West Coast, where "For Sale" signs are staying planted in lawns much longer than sellers would like. [Source]

Experts predict this imbalance could push home prices downward by the end of 2025. For buyers who've been waiting on the sidelines, patience might finally pay off. [Source]

Condos are feeling an even stronger buyer's market pressure nationwide. Rising HOA fees and insurance costs are adding significant financial burdens that many potential buyers just aren't willing to shoulder. [Source]

In Florida, the condo market looks particularly vulnerable. Buyers are flexing their newfound leverage—negotiating lower prices and sometimes requiring sellers to cover upcoming assessment costs before closing. Some experts are already suggesting further price declines as sellers adjust to diminished market values. [Source]

The pendulum swings. After years of sellers calling all the shots, buyers are suddenly holding the cards—the question is: how long before developers pull back on new construction, creating yet another shortage?

More You Should Know

• Agents Combat Closing Fraud: Real estate agents can proactively prevent closing fraud, particularly seller impersonation, by maintaining clear communication with clients and title companies regarding wire instructions and processes, encouraging direct verification, and staying updated on evolving fraud risks. [Source]

• Appeals Court Pauses Trump Tariffs: A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, reversing the previous ruling that had blocked them. [Source]

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