A few years ago, sellers had a clear advantage in much of the country.

Homes often received multiple offers, buyers competed aggressively, and properties could sell very quickly.

Today, the picture is more balanced.

According to data highlighted by Keeping Current Matters, only about one-third of major metro areas remained seller-favored by the end of 2025, a significant change from 2021 when sellers held the advantage in nearly every major market.

Why has the balance shifted?

One of the biggest reasons is inventory.

As more homes become available, buyers have more options. That can reduce competition and give buyers greater negotiating power.

But there’s an important distinction: this isn’t happening equally everywhere.

Some markets still have relatively limited inventory and strong buyer competition. Others have seen supply increase substantially, creating more balanced or buyer-friendly conditions.

For sellers, this means strategies that worked a few years ago may need to evolve. Accurate pricing, strong presentation, effective marketing, and flexibility during negotiations can become increasingly important when buyers have more choices.

For buyers, a more balanced market may provide additional time to evaluate properties and greater opportunities to negotiate.

Ultimately, asking whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market nationally isn’t nearly as useful as asking what type of market you’re in locally.

If you’re planning a move, The Suarez Team can help you understand current conditions in your neighborhood and build a strategy around what’s actually happening in your local market.

Source: Keeping Current Matters.