Housing News

Homebuyers Are Gaining the Upper Hand in These Housing Markets

October 20, 2026

The balance of power in the housing market is shifting, and homebuyers are gaining ground across much of the country.

Nearly two-thirds of the nation’s largest metropolitan housing markets now favor homebuyers or are trending in their favor, according to a new Realtor.com report. Only 27 of the 99 markets analyzed remain firmly in sellers’ territory, down from 39 a year ago.

“The latest reading shows buyers gaining ground nationally and in many markets,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, in a statement.

The findings come from Realtor.com’s latest Market Clock report, which measures the balance between supply and demand by analyzing housing stock, completed sales, and contract activity.

Nationally, the market has shifted further toward homebuyers since the previous quarter. However, where you’re looking to purchase makes a big difference.

Where homebuyers have the most negotiating power

The South is leading the shift toward a more homebuyer-friendly housing market.

Of the 17 metropolitan areas classified as outright homebuyers’ markets, 14 are in the South. Florida accounts for several, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Cape Coral, and Port St. Lucie.

Other markets that favor homebuyers include Nashville, Tenn.; Greenville, S.C.; and New Orleans.

The West is also starting to shift. Bakersfield and Riverside, Calif., along with Colorado Springs, Colo., entered homebuyer-friendly territory between June and September.

Meanwhile, Austin, Texas; Seattle; Salt Lake City; and Portland, Ore., each moved two positions up the Realtor.com 12-hour Market Clock toward homebuyers during the latest quarter.

“The map is still shifting too, with 41 metros changing clock positions over the past quarter,” said Jake Krimmel, senior economist at Realtor.com, in a statement.

Where sellers still have the advantage

Not every housing market is becoming easier for homebuyers.

The Midwest remains a stronghold for sellers, with 16 of 27 metropolitan areas classified as sellers’ markets.

Cities such as Indianapolis, Omaha, St. Louis, Columbus, Ohio, and Grand Rapids, Mich., have maintained seller-friendly conditions for years.

Other markets where sellers retain an advantage include San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., and Albuquerque, N.M.

In these areas, competition for available properties may leave homebuyers with less room to negotiate.

Still, some longtime sellers’ markets could be approaching a turning point. Detroit, Richmond, Va., Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis are among the markets closest to a shift toward more balanced conditions.

These markets could favor homebuyers next

Several metropolitan areas aren’t officially homebuyers’ markets yet, but they’re getting closer.

Realtor.com identified Atlanta; Augusta, Ga.; Charleston, S.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Denver; Jacksonville, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; and San Antonio as markets that could enter homebuyer-friendly territory.

For prospective purchasers, changing conditions could create opportunities to negotiate on asking prices, repairs, and closing costs.

A home that has been listed for several weeks, for example, may offer more room for discussion than one that has just hit the market.

Local conditions can vary considerably within the same metropolitan area, however, so neighborhood-level trends still matter.

How homebuyers can negotiate a better mortgage deal

A lower asking price isn’t the only way homebuyers can save money in a more favorable market.

Some sellers may be willing to contribute toward closing costs or a mortgage rate buydown, which can reduce a homebuyer’s interest rate temporarily or permanently, depending on the loan program.

For example, on a $320,000 mortgage, reducing the rate from 7.4% to 6.4% would lower the monthly principal-and-interest payment from approximately $2,216 to $2,002, a savings of about $214 a month.

That’s more than $2,500 in annual payment savings.

The example assumes a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and excludes property taxes and insurance. A permanent rate buydown requires an upfront cost, which may be covered in part by a negotiated seller concession, subject to loan-program limits.

Homebuyers may also benefit from getting preapproved before making an offer. Knowing their financing options and monthly budget can help them act confidently when the right property comes along.

What the changing market means for homebuyers

Of the 99 metropolitan areas analyzed, 17 currently favor homebuyers, 49 are balanced but shifting toward homebuyers, 27 favor sellers, and six are balanced but moving toward sellers.

The differences underscore why understanding local market conditions matters as much as following national housing trends.

For financially prepared homebuyers, a market moving in their favor could mean more choices, greater flexibility on purchase terms, and more manageable mortgage payments.