U.S. Sellers Outnumber Buyers by 57.9%

This past Mid-Q3, we saw the widest gap between sellers and buyers in the U.S. since 2013—a 57.9% difference, with 1.53 million sellers compared to 972,300 buyers nationwide. Inventory climbed, with listings up 3.9% month-over-month, marking the largest spike on record for the major portals, while buyer activity ticked up just 0.1%. As a result, three out of five homes sold below their original list price, giving active buyers more room to negotiate. Still, affordability remained challenging: 30-year mortgage rates stayed in the high-6% range, and the national median sale price was 2.2% higher than last year. With more owners feeling ready to list—many emerging from earlier mortgage lock-in—we’re seeing increased options, though overall demand is still tight, with existing-home sales down 2% to a 3.98 million annual pace. For clients navigating complex life changes in Central & North Jersey, these shifts create fresh considerations for both selling and buying strategies. My role is to offer clear, experienced guidance—especially when protecting equity is paramount.