• Redfin reports 35 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros were buyer’s markets in May, led by places in the Sun Belt.
• There are nearly half a million more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market—46.9% more—signaling that buyers hold the power.
• The number of sellers entering the market is at a 6-year high. Meanwhile, homebuying demand remained flat, which widened the gap slightly.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 9, 2026-- Homebuyers hold the power in the U.S. housing market. There were an estimated 46.9% more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market in May, up from 46.4% the month before but down from a peak of 49.5% in December 2025. This is according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket.

Nashville, TN, Miami and Austin, TX are the biggest drivers of this spring’s buyer’s market, with the biggest surplus of sellers over buyers. Two more Texas metros, Houston and San Antonio, round out the top five.

When sellers outnumber buyers, buyers typically have more negotiating power because they have options. That’s why a market with a lot more sellers than buyers is considered a buyer’s market. Redfin defines a market where there are over 10% more sellers than buyers as a buyer’s market and a market where there are over 10% fewer sellers than buyers as a seller’s market. A market where the gap is plus or minus 10% is considered a balanced market.

It’s important to note that it’s only a buyer’s market for people who can afford to buy. High housing costs and widespread economic uncertainty have caused many would-be buyers to back off in recent years, creating the imbalance of buyers and sellers we see today.

“While the gap between homebuyers and sellers has narrowed slightly since the end of last year, house hunters still have far more negotiating power and less pressure to make rushed decisions,” said Redfin Senior Economist Asad Khan. “With lots of inventory to choose from, buyers in most of the country can be selective and ask for concessions, while sellers still need to price competitively to stand out. Still, buyers should remember that it’s not quite as strong of a buyer’s market as it once was. The most desirable homes in popular metro areas—and popular neighborhoods in all areas—are still attracting multiple offers.”

Nashville, Along With Florida and Texas Metros, Are the Biggest Buyer’s Markets

Nearly three-quarters of U.S. housing markets—35 of the 49 U.S. metro areas Redfin analyzed—are buyer’s markets. For this report, Redfin analyzed the 50 most populous metros, and excluded Fort Lauderdale, FL due to insufficient data.

May’s strongest buyer’s market was Nashville, TN, which had an estimated 130% more sellers than buyers. Next came Miami (122%), Austin, TX (116%), Houston (111%) and San Antonio (108%).

“Listings are skyrocketing and buyers are being picky,” said Aaron Glicken, a Redfin Premier agent in Nashville, TN. “Sellers are still struggling to wrap their minds around lower prices, which is one reason so many listings are going stale: Many sellers won’t negotiate or lower their prices. At the same time, buyers are being very particular; they’re contending with high mortgage rates, more choices, and often only want to close a deal if sellers will negotiate.”

The story of Nashville’s market is emblematic of why the Sun Belt is home to so many strong buyer’s markets. The Sun Belt skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic, when many out-of-staters moved in thanks to remote work and record-low mortgage rates. Home construction boomed to keep pace with demand—but after those new homes were complete, soaring mortgage rates, rising insurance costs, increasing HOA fees and climate risks have limited buyer demand. That has left sellers with more competition.

New construction plays a big role in whether buyers or sellers have the upper hand because it increases housing supply. The South and West—especially Florida and Texas—have built far more homes than the Northeast and Midwest, helping tip many metros in those regions toward buyers.

More Sellers Entered the U.S. Market, While Buying Demand Was Flat

Nationwide, there were an estimated 1,483,839 home sellers in the market in May—the highest level since 2020 and up 0.4% month over month.

Meanwhile, there were an estimated 1,010,386 buyers in the market, essentially unchanged (0.1%) from the month before.

The fact that the number of sellers grew from April to May while the number of buyers was essentially flat explains why the seller surplus ticked up. New listings hit the market at a slightly faster rate than buyers entered the market, increasing competition among sellers a bit from the month before.

Homebuying demand flattened in May largely because mortgage rates soared to their highest level in nearly a year, straining affordability. Widespread economic and geopolitical uncertainty also deterred house hunters, with the Iran war, rising gas prices and inflation coming together to create financial jitters.

More sellers entered the market last month partly because they noticed the uptick in homebuying demand in April, which was due to a strong job market and temporarily lower mortgage rates.

There Are 7 Seller’s Markets, Led By Long Island

Seven of the major U.S. metro areas Redfin analyzed were seller’s markets in May, tied with April for the highest number in nine months. The metros that are neither seller’s nor buyer’s markets are considered “balanced” markets.

Nassau County, NY was the strongest seller’s market, with 38% fewer sellers than buyers. The other six seller’s markets were Milwaukee (-29.%), Montgomery County, PA (-25%), Newark, NJ (-21%), New Brunswick, NJ (-20%), Providence, RI (-19%) and San Francisco (-14%).

Home-sale prices rose 4.3% year over year, on average, across the seven seller’s markets in May. That’s compared with a 1.6% increase across the 36 buyer’s markets—an indication that in seller’s markets, competition among buyers is pushing up home prices.

House Hunters’ Negotiating Power Grew in 23 of the 35 Buyer’s Markets

Most of the buyer’s markets became stronger buyer’s markets in May. The surplus of home sellers over buyers grew month over month in 23 of the 35 buyer’s markets in America. The surplus increased most in Nashville, which was also the strongest buyer’s market in May.

There were 130% more sellers than buyers in Nashville, up from roughly 114% the month before. The next-biggest monthly increase was in St. Louis, which went from being a balanced market in April to a buyer’s market in May, with 15% more sellers than buyers. Oakland, CA, rounds out the top three (31% more sellers than buyers, up from 21%).

Next are two Texas metros: In both Houston and Austin, there were more than twice as many sellers as buyers in May, and both metros saw the gap increase nearly 10 percentage points month over month.

In some of the buyer’s markets, house hunters lost some negotiating power. In 12 of the 35, the surplus of sellers over buyers fell from April to May. That means they became less strong buyer’s markets.

The biggest decline was in Pittsburgh, where there were 53% more sellers than buyers, down from about 63% the month before. Next is Miami: There were 122% more sellers than buyers in May, but that’s down from a 131% surplus in April. The next-biggest declines were in West Palm Beach, Portland, OR and Fort Worth, TX.

To view the full report, including a methodology, charts and additional metro-level data, please visit: redfin.com/news/buyers-vs-sellers-may-2026

About Redfin

Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company with the country's most-visited real estate brokerage website. As part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Redfin is creating an integrated homeownership platform from search to close to make the dream of homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. Redfin’s clients can see homes first with on-demand tours, easily apply for a home loan with Rocket Mortgage, and save thousands in fees while working with a top local agent.

You can find more information about Redfin and get the latest housing market data and research at https://www.redfin.com/news. For more information about Rocket Companies, visit https://www.rocketcompanies.com.

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Source: Redfin