Homebuyers

Fall 2025 is Shaping Up to be a Buyer-Friendly Market—Here’s How to Play It

For years, fall has been the overlooked season in real estate. These are the months when sellers sigh in resignation, and buyers who didn’t score a home in spring either drop out of the market or hunker down for the holidays.

But this year, autumn is shaping up to be prime homebuying time for those still on the hunt.

“This fall is the most buyer-friendly market we’ve seen in years,” predicts Sebastian Frey, Broker Associate at Compass in Silicon Valley, Calif. “For-sale signs are multiplying in neighborhoods, competition feels lighter, and sellers are more motivated to make a deal than at any time since 2020.”

Mortgage rates are also easing as fall approaches and more sellers are cutting prices. In other words, the real estate stars are aligning.

Here’s why the housing market is leaning toward buyers this fall and how to use the moment to your advantage.

Mortgage interest rates are falling

As of mid-August, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate had slipped four weeks in a row to 6.58%, its lowest point since October 2024, according to Freddie Mac data.

Rates could fall even further this year as economists predict the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut rates in September. While the Fed rate is separate from mortgage rates, the two usually move in tandem.

Even a small drop in rates can provide homebuyers and owners with hundreds of dollars in savings each year. The key is to get pre-approved now so you’re ready to strike if rates dip again before closing.

Ask your lender about a “float-down” option, which lets you lock in today’s rate but move to a lower one if the market shifts in your favor before you close.

You could also consider buying now and refinancing if rates do decline as expected.

“My husband and I recently bought ourselves a new home,” said Kristen D. Conti, broker and owner at Peacock Premier Properties in Englewood, Fla. “We plan to refinance when and if the rates go down.”

The number of homes for sale has risen

After years where housing stock was in very short supply, home listings are now on the rise.

“We’ve got more homes on the market today than we’ve seen in years,” said Frey. “That shift alone makes the market feel completely different.”

More homes on the market means you can take your time, compare options, and be choosier about what you buy.

Use the breathing room to schedule multiple showings, revisit properties, and negotiate inspection repairs. A bigger pool of listings also increases your odds of finding a home that ticks more boxes without blowing your budget.

“What is important to convey to fall buyers is the power of choice that they have now,” said Conti. “Gone are the days of competing with 20 other offers, waiving inspections, and appraisals.”

Fall 2025 may favor homebuyers

Late summer to early fall consistently ranks as one of the most buyer-friendly times of the year in Realtor.com’s annual “best time to buy” analysis. This is usually due to sellers cutting listing prices to get a sale.

Indeed, sellers whose homes have been sitting since spring often face a choice: make a price cut now or risk pulling the listing until next year. That’s because it’s often harder to sell a home during the end-of-year holidays.

This means this season may be your opening to make a move. Make offers on homes that have been on the market for 30 days or more, especially if they’ve already dropped in price.

Combine that with a mortgage pre-approval and a flexible closing date, and you could score seller concessions—like the seller covering part of your closing costs—plus the discount.

Homes are selling below their asking prices

This summer, more than half of U.S. homes have sold for less than their asking price, according to the real estate analytics firm Cotality.

This means the negotiating table has room for you again. Research recent sales in your target area to know exactly how far below the list price similar homes have gone.

Then, when you submit an offer, support it with data. Show the seller where the market is and why your number is fair.

If they won’t budge on price, ask for perks. For example, ask that the washer/dryer stay or for credits to offset interest rate buydowns to temporarily lower your mortgage rate.

Home price growth is cooling in certain markets

Nationally, home prices up just 2.3% year-over-year, the slowest pace in years, according to the CoreLogic Case-Shiller index. The index is an indicator of wider housing market trends.

Slower growth means you can buy without worrying that if you don’t, you’ll soon be priced out of the market.

In cooling markets, focus your search on regions or neighborhoods where appreciation has flattened or dipped. These are often the first areas where motivated sellers appear. This not only helps you negotiate now, but it also reduces the risk of overpaying in the short term.

“Here’s the part buyers really need to know: a lot of fall sellers (especially late-fall sellers) are motivated,” said Frey. “This year in particular, many sellers are rattled and more eager to make a deal than at any point since the pandemic began.”

The bottom line? Fall 2025 is shaping up to be as close to a balanced market as buyers have seen in years.