In the past 48 hours, the US housing industry shows a cooling yet nuanced market, with persistent nationwide shortages clashing against localized gluts driving seller desperation. Delistings surged 28 percent year-over-year in September, hitting 85,000 homes as sellers pull listings rather than cut prices, per Redfin data accessed December 15, 2025[1]. Home prices fell in half of the top 20 metro areas per the latest Case-Shiller index, with Tampa down 4 percent and Phoenix 2 percent[1].
Builder sentiment offers a bright spot, with the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rising to 39 in December 2025, an eight-month high from 38 last month, though still subdued[2]. Active listings climbed 12.6 percent from November 2024, signaling a more balanced market than last year[3]. Mortgage rates hold at 6.29 percent mid-December, minimally impacting prices despite forecasts of drops, as 135 years of data confirm rates predict sales volume but not price shifts[4].
In Sun Belt hotspots like Florida and Texas, builders like D.R. Horton counter soft demand by subsidizing rates to 0.99 percent and boosting agent commissions[1]. Austin exemplifies local pressures, with 14,178 listings on December 15, 57 percent price drops, 5.06 months inventory, and a $450,000 median price amid a 20.4 percent activity index[5].
Consumer behavior shifts toward caution, with 70 percent of listings stale over 60 days, empowering buyers to negotiate in cooling areas like Miami, where 7.8 percent of listings delisted[1]. Unlike pandemic frenzies, Northeast and Midwest metros now gain steadily, reverting from migration-driven booms[1]. Leaders respond by slashing rates and incentives, but long-term shortages of 4 million units persist, keeping affordability strained[1].
Compared to prior weeks, sentiment's uptick and rising inventory mark stabilization, yet price declines in ex-hotspots highlight geographic rotations over broad recovery.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI