US Housing News

US Housing Market in Flux: Balancing Buyer Advantages and Affordability Challenges


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US Housing Market Update: November 19-20, 2025

The US housing market is experiencing significant shifts as we enter the final weeks of 2025. New data released on November 19 reveals a market increasingly favoring buyers, with major supply and demand imbalances reshaping buyer behavior and pricing dynamics.

The most striking development is a supply-demand gap of historic proportions. The market now has 36.8 percent more sellers than buyers, marking the largest disparity since records began in 2013. This translates to approximately 528,769 more sellers than buyers, creating what Redfin defines as a strong buyer's market. However, this advantage is tempered by affordability constraints, as mortgage applications and buyer participation remain historically depressed outside of pandemic-era lows.

Mortgage rates continue hovering in the low-to-mid 6 percent range, with the 30-year fixed rate currently at 6.24 percent as of November 13. Expert consensus suggests rates will remain above 6 percent through year-end, with uncertainty surrounding potential December Federal Reserve decisions adding volatility to market expectations.

Regional variations are becoming pronounced. Orlando's real estate market exemplifies these shifts, with inventory up 20 percent compared to last year while pricing increased only 0.5 percent month-over-month. Days on market unexpectedly rose to 77 days from 72 days, defying typical seasonal patterns. New listings in Orlando jumped 9 percent compared to October, suggesting sellers are capitalizing on low rates despite holiday seasonality.

National data shows the homebuyer count dropped 1.7 percent in October to 1.44 million, the lowest level outside the COVID-19 pandemic onset. Simultaneously, the seller count declined for the fifth consecutive month, falling 0.5 percent. This dual contraction suggests both buyer and seller hesitation, though for different reasons: buyers face affordability challenges while sellers struggle with relocation needs and life changes forcing transactions.

Analysts predict potential 10 to 15 percent price corrections on median and above-median priced homes as market normalization continues. The relationship between new listing normalizations and sales activity is proving crucial, with 26 of 75 tracked metros showing pre-pandemic listing patterns correlating with healthier sales volumes.

The emerging narrative reflects a market in transition, where buyer advantages in pricing are offset by overall market contraction and affordability pressures continuing to reshape participation patterns across demographic segments.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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US Housing NewsBy Inception Point Ai