Homeowners Looking to Sell Now Surpass Buyers by 47%: How This Could Impact Property Values

Main Insights

• In December, the number of people selling homes surpassed buyers by 47%, marking the largest difference seen in over ten years of Redfin’s records.
• Both buyers and sellers pulled back from the housing market, as mortgage rates stayed high and home values continued to rise.
• However, in certain regions such as Nassau County, NY, and Milwaukee, sellers maintained an advantage, according to the report.

Many housing markets across the U.S. now favor buyers, even though property prices remain elevated.

Redfin’s data shows that in December, there were 631,535 more sellers than buyers—a 47% gap, the largest since Redfin began tracking this metric in 2013, and over 22 percentage points higher than the previous year.

This surplus of sellers gives buyers more choices, as available homes outpace demand. Still, this growing divide comes at a time when mortgage rates that stayed above 6% throughout 2025.

Economic Impact

A sluggish housing market can slow economic growth by reducing construction activity, home renovation spending, and consumer mobility. If this trend continues, it may help ease inflation but could also weaken confidence and job creation in real estate and related industries.

Despite the widening gap between sellers and buyers, home prices are still climbing. According to the National Association of Realtors, December marked the 30th straight month of rising existing-home prices, with the median price reaching $405,400.

“Many sellers are reluctant to lower their prices,” said Connie Durnal, a Redfin Premier agent in Dallas. “If your home isn’t priced competitively, it’s likely to remain unsold.”

Buyers and Sellers Retreat from the Market

Some homeowners unable to sell are removing their listings, while buyers are pulling back even more sharply. Redfin estimates that only 1.34 million buyers were active in December—the lowest figure on record.

Although the total number of homes for sale in December was higher than a year earlier, it dropped significantly compared to November.

“Inventory remains limited,” noted Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR. “With fewer sellers eager to move, homeowners are taking their time deciding when to put their properties on the market.”

Existing home sales increased by 5.1% from November, making December the strongest sales month in nearly three years, according to Yun. Nevertheless, sales volumes remained close to historic lows.

Regional Differences and Market Trends

“2025 proved to be another difficult year for buyers, with record-high prices and historically low sales,” Yun commented.

Buyers found the most favorable conditions in the South and West, particularly in Texas and Florida, where seller numbers were highest. Still, not every market leaned toward buyers. In Nassau County, NY, buyers outnumbered sellers by 33%, and they also held the majority in Montgomery County, PA, Newark, NJ, Milwaukee, and New Brunswick, NJ.