Housing News

10 Housing Markets with the Biggest Jump in New Home Listings

After years of slim pickings, homebuyers are finally seeing more fresh homes hit the market, depending on where they’re looking.

Nationally, new home listings rose 2.4% from a year ago in June, according to a recent Realtor.com report.

Some metropolitan areas are seeing an even bigger shift. (Metros include the main city and surrounding towns, smaller urban areas, and suburbs.)

Ten housing markets posted double-digit increases in new home listings compared with a year ago, led by New York; Dayton, Ohio; and Des Moines, Iowa.

“These metros are all in the Northeast and Midwest, where inventory has been constrained the most in recent years,” said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com. “So, it’s quite encouraging to see these markets opening up with more homes hitting the market.”

Pending home sales also increased for the seventh straight month, the longest streak since the first half of 2021. At the same time, delistings fell nearly 10% from a year earlier, a sign that more sellers are keeping their homes on the market.

More homes coming onto the market gives homebuyers more opportunities to find the right fit, although desirable properties can still sell quickly.

Housing markets with the biggest increase in new home listings

1. New York City: 28.2%
2. Dayton, Ohio: 21.9%
3. Des Moines, Iowa: 18.6%
4. Akron, Ohio: 16.7%
5. Bridgeport, Conn.: 15.2%
6. New Haven, Conn.: 14.8%
7. Buffalo, N.Y.: 12.3%
8. Madison, Wis.: 12.0%
9. Syracuse, N.Y.: 11.3%
10. Worcester, Mass.: 10.8%

Why new home listings matter

New home listings measure how many homes are entering the market for sale. Unlike total housing stock, which includes every active listing, new listings reflect the flow of fresh homes becoming available for homebuyers.

That matters because newly listed homes give buyers more opportunities to find a property that fits their budget and needs before it has been sitting on the market for weeks. A steady stream of new listings can also reduce the feeling that buyers must make an offer on the only home available.

“Buyers targeting these metros should be highly engaged and ready to act as more newly-listed homes are available than there were last year,” said Berner. “Previous frustrations with a lack of fresh inventory are finally being addressed, so buyers should be encouraged to keep a close watch on the listing portals.”

How to shop a market with more new listings

A rise in new listings doesn’t mean homebuyers should expect bargains overnight. Well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods can still sell quickly.

Instead, buyers can take advantage of having more fresh options. Setting up alerts through real estate websites or apps can help you see new listings as soon as they hit the market. Being pre-approved for a mortgage before you begin touring homes can also help you move quickly if you find the right one.

More new listings also make it easier to compare homes side by side. Rather than feeling pressured to choose from only a handful of properties, homebuyers may have more opportunities to weigh price, location, condition, and features before making an offer.

While every local housing market is different, the increase in new listings is another sign that conditions are gradually becoming more balanced, giving many homebuyers more choices than they’ve had in several years.