Homebuyers

The 5 Big Things Homebuyers Can Be Happy About These Days

For the last few years, many homebuyers moved through the housing market with a kind of tunnel vision. They chased listings, leapt at anything remotely affordable, and made life-altering decisions on the fly because everyone else seemed to be doing the same.

But recently, the homebuying process has changed. Many buyers feel more confident, less pressured, and have more time to relax throughout their home search. That’s due to more homes on the market and less competition for them, except in certain parts of the country or at lower price points.

“Buyers understand that pandemic pricing and bidding wars are [mostly] behind them,” said Ben Mizes, president and co-founder of Clever Offers. The nationwide marketplace allows homeowners to compare cash and quick-sale offers. “They are not running against the clock, but buying homes based on lifestyle and long-term value.”

Here is a closer look at what has changed for buyers and why many are entering the housing market again.

1. Better homes are going up for sale

One underrated benefit of today’s cooler housing market is the ability to find higher-quality properties. During the pandemic years, nearly everything sold. That included homes with odd layouts, outdated systems, or cosmetic issues that concealed deeper problems.

Now, buyers can choose a home that better fits their lifestyle. That’s a change from the pandemic days when many feared if they didn’t act immediately on homes that only sort of met their criteria, they would miss out.

“During the frenzy, anything with four walls was selling,” said Mizes. “Today, I am seeing buyers gravitate toward homes they truly love instead of settling. They can wait for the right house instead of fighting for the only one available.”

2. Homebuyers have more time to decide if they want to make an offer

Perhaps the biggest change for buyers is the time factor. Buyers are no longer making six-figure decisions in a few hours. They can revisit a home, instead of panicking and rushing into an offer.

“Today buyers can slow down, compare options, and make an informed decision,” said Mizes. “That alone dramatically reduces remorse.”

Indeed, regret among recent buyers has dropped sharply.

The percentage of those who believed they overpaid fell from 15% in 2023 to just 8% in 2025, according to a Realtor.com survey. The portion of those reporting no regrets rose from 31% to 37% over the same period.

3. Transparency in homebuying is back

Transparency may not sound like a perk, but it makes an enormous difference when you are purchasing a home. Inspections are back. Contingencies are more common. And many sellers cannot rely on “as is” or “take it or leave it” posturing because buyers in many markets now have alternatives.

“Buyers can truly understand what they are purchasing,” said Mizes. “A house with an issue no longer [automatically] turns into a bidding war.”

Home shoppers who were unable to conduct thorough due diligence before may now be able to confidently investigate a home’s drainage, electrical systems, insulation, and neighborhood quirks. In many cases, it won’t cost them the home because the seller may not have other offers to choose from.

This clarity prevents costly surprises for buyers after closing.

4. Homebuyers have real negotiation power again

In many markets, buyers can once again negotiate. This doesn’t need to be in a confrontational manner, but in the usual, everyday way that characterized homebuying for decades before 2020.

“Buyers can ask for repairs, credits, and closing cost help, and they often get it,” said Mizes. “In the last couple of years, I have seen buyers save thousands simply because sellers are more willing to meet them in the middle again.”

Sellers who once shrugged at inspection findings are now paying for roof fixes, plumbing corrections, and mold remediation.

In some cases, sellers are even offering to buy down a buyer’s mortgage rate. This effectively reduces a buyer’s monthly mortgage payment for the first year or two of their loan without changing the sale price.

5. Homebuyers have more flexibility around the timing of their moves

Another big win emerging in this calmer market is flexibility around possession dates. Buyers who once had to scramble to move the moment papers were signed now have room to breathe.

“I’ve seen more buyers able to negotiate terms related to the date of occupancy, allowing the buyer to take possession of the property as much as two to three weeks after closing,” said David Weisselberger, an attorney at Florida’s Erase the Case in Miami.

That buffer can make an enormous difference, especially for buyers navigating employer or school-year terms. And it reflects a broader reset in how deals are structured today.

Buyers have more control during the homebuying process, from choosing the right home to negotiating with the seller.

“When the market is calmer, the buying process becomes more personal,” said Mizes.