Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that new data benefits home buyers.
(NewsNation) — The housing market has seen its latest shift once again, this time with home buyers turning the tide back in their favor.
New data from Realtor.com shows that national active listings are on the rise over the past year, which indicates that homeowners have regained leverage in many parts of the U.S. This change has been encouraged by seller’s markets turning into balanced markets, and balanced markets transforming into buyer’s markets.
Homeowners taking houses off market as buyers refuse higher prices
Housing markets see pre-pandemic bump
In addition, local housing markets have jumped above pre-pandemic 2019 levels. They have experienced softer home price increases over the past three years.
The 12 states — as of last month — that rose above pre-pandemic 2019 active inventory levels included Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Idaho, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Texas.
Newly listed homes also grew 7.3% year over year, according to Realtor.com. And despite a decline for the third straight month, price cuts on homes listed rose to 20.6%, representing the first monthly fall in price cuts in 2025.
“Typically, new listings ramp up through May or even June, but this year’s spring home listing season never quite took off, perhaps an indication that sellers—like buyers—are still hesitant to make a move,” said the website’s July 2025 data.
Homeowners removing homes from market
As would-be buyers push back on higher housing costs, instead of acquiescing to lower prices, sellers have been removing their homes off the market.
After five years of a hot housing market, demand has cooled down because buyers can’t bear higher prices amid persistent high interest rates, and they’re fed up with the asking prices.
In May, the rate of delisted homes increased by 47% nationwide compared to last year, according to Realtor.com.
