{"id":6470,"date":"2026-06-18T10:46:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T10:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/is-it-still-a-sellers-market-heres-what-the-data-says\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T10:46:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T10:46:07","slug":"is-it-still-a-sellers-market-heres-what-the-data-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/is-it-still-a-sellers-market-heres-what-the-data-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Still a Seller’s Market? Here’s What the Data Says."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Is\n

Remember a few years back when sellers held all the power and buyers were stuck offering way over asking or waiving inspections just to get a chance at the house? In many markets, those days are behind us.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s going to vary by area, more metros are slowly shifting to favor buyers, and the market is starting to look a lot more like a two-way street again.<\/p>\n

And that balance is something we haven\u2019t had in a while.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re buying or selling, here\u2019s what you need to know about what\u2019s changing and what it means for your move.<\/p>\n

The Most Buyer-Friendly Market in Years<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The national data tells an interesting story right now. According<\/a> to Realtor.com<\/em>:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe national housing market is balanced but <\/em>gradually loosening as the cycle moves in a more buyer-friendly direction . . .<\/em><\/strong>\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s because, over the past few years, more and more metros have been flipping back to more buyer-friendly terms as inventory\u2019s grown. And when you zoom in on the latest Realtor.com<\/em> data<\/a> for the top 50 metro markets over time, the trend becomes really clear (see graph below<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Back in 2021, almost all major metros were seller\u2019s markets. By the end of 2025, only 1 in 3 still favored sellers. That\u2019s an obvious shift.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

And that changes how the market is going to feel for everyone. Sellers shouldn\u2019t still expect 2021 conditions, but neither should buyers. At least, not generally speaking.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Not the Same Story Everywhere<\/strong><\/h4>\n

That said, who has the power ultimately depends on where you live. While more metros are leaning buyer-friendly lately, there are still plenty of strong seller\u2019s markets right now, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It really comes down to how much housing supply<\/a> and demand there is in your area. And that varies enormously by region.<\/p>\n

Sun Belt cities like Austin, Tampa, and San Antonio saw major building<\/a> booms in recent years, giving buyers more options and more negotiating room. Meanwhile, cities in the Northeast and Midwest \u2013 think Rochester, Hartford, and Buffalo \u2013 didn\u2019t see that same wave, so inventory stayed tight and competition stayed fierce. As Jeff Ostrowski, Housing Analyst at Bankrate<\/em>, explains:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe formerly hot Sun Belt markets have cooled, while the Northeast and Midwest have stayed hot. <\/em>The big driver here is construction activity. <\/em><\/strong>The softest markets now [have] experienced big booms that spurred new building, and that has led to a large supply of new and existing homes on the market in those places.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Practical Advice for Your Move<\/strong><\/h4>\n

To find out who has the power in your local market, talk to an agent. Because knowing what\u2019s happening locally is going to be the key to setting the right strategy for your move.<\/p>\n

If the market is working in your favor, great. Lean in and use it to your benefit. But if it\u2019s not, all hope isn\u2019t lost. Your agent can help you figure out how to approach any market.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s some practical advice if there\u2019s a mismatch between your goal and local market conditions.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re buying <\/em>in a seller\u2019s <\/em>market:<\/strong><\/p>\n