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If you took your house off the market in late 2024, you’re not the only one. Newsweek reports that data from CoreLogic and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) says nearly 73,000 homes were pulled from the market in December alone – that's more than any other December going all the way back to 2017 (see graph below):Whether it was because offers weren’t coming in, the timing around the holidays felt overwhelming, or they wanted to see if the market would improve in the new year – a lot of other homeowners decided to press pause, too.But now, with spring fast approaching, it’s time to reassess. The market is already picking up, and waiting any longer to jump back in may only mean you’d face more competition from other sellers down the road.Why Now Could Be the Right Time Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains that some of those sellers may have pulled their listings late last year with the goal of trying again this spring: “Another reason for a step back could be that sellers wanted to wait and see how spring home buying season goes, and if mortgage rates fall, which would bring more home buyers and competition back in the market.”That’s because spring is when buyer demand is typically at its highest point for the year. More people start their home search once the weather warms up. They’re eager to close on a home so they can move in during the summer. So, it’s a great window for sellers. It means more buyers.And while mortgage rates haven’t fallen dramatically, they have come down some in recent weeks. Early signs already show buyers are becoming more active as a result. Since January, demand has picked up – and that should continue as spring draws even closer.What To Do Differently This TimeStart by checking the status of your listing agreement. Because even if you pulled your listing, you may still be under contract. And until your listing expires, your agent or brokerage is your best resource on what else you could try to get it sold. Realtor.com offers this advice:“If you aren't sure of the status of your listing, whether active, expired, or withdrawn, take a look at your listing agreement and talk to your real estate agent.”If your contract is still active, now’s the perfect time to reconnect with your agent to explore strategies to get your home sold this time around. If your contract has since expired and you’re considering other options, reach out to a trusted real estate professional who can help you figure out where to go from here.Either way, take some time to reflect on your last experience. What held you back from getting it sold before? And what can you do to improve your chances this time around? Be sure to include your current agent in this thought process. They’ll give you an objective point of view and some advice based on what may have gone wrong last time, like: Your Pricing Strategy: Did buyers overlook your house because it was priced too high? Your real estate agent can help you analyze the latest sales in your area to make sure you’re hitting the right number. Believe it or not, you could actually be leaving money on the table by not pricing competitively. When it’s priced appropriately for the market, your opportunities for multiple offers and buyer competition increase.Your Marketing Approach: Was your home staged to look its best? Did you use a skilled photographer for your listing photos? Small tweaks can make a big difference in how buyers see your house. Something as simple as taking new photos now that it’s spring can help your house show better than it did in the winter listing.Offering Concessions: Were you willing to offer incentives to buyers? As the supply of homes for sale grows, more sellers are entertaining the idea of concessions or incentives to get the deal done. If you weren’t open to those conversations, that may have been a factor, too.Showings and Flexibility: Did you have limits on when buyers could see the home? If your house is accessible and available, you’ll likely get more offers.  Bottom LineIf your house didn’t sell last year, spring may be your second chance. With buyer activity rising, it’s the perfect time to talk to an agent about coming back into the market with a fresh strategy. What do you want to do differently this time around? Talk to your agent to go over your options and make a plan.

Want to know two reasons this spring might finally be your time to buy? Inventory has grown and sellers may be more willing to negotiate as a result. That means you’ve got more options and more power than buyers have had in years. Let’s break it down.1. You Have More Homes To Choose FromThe number of homes for sale this February was higher than it’s been in any of the past five Februarys – and that’s great news for your home search. The graph below uses the latest data from Realtor.com to show the supply of homes on the market has grown by 27.5% in just the last year:More choices for your search is a good thing – and experts also say that inventory is projected to continue rising this year, which is even better. It means it should be easier to find something that checks your most important boxes. But that’s not all this does for you. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains some of the other perks of more inventory, beyond just having more homes to consider:“Buyers will not only have more home options . . . but they are also likely to find somewhat lower asking prices and more time to make decisions – all buyer-friendly factors as we inch closer to the busy homebuying season.”2. You May Find Sellers Are Doing Price CutsNow that buyers have more options, some homes are sitting on the market a little longer – especially those that were priced too high from the start. And the result is more sellers are having to drop their prices to draw buyers back in. Just take a look at the numbers.According to Realtor.com, the number of listings with price reductions has gone up compared to the last few years (see graph below):This is a sign sellers are more willing to compromise today. If you look back to more normal years in the market (2017–2019), you’ll see that the number of price cuts happening today is much closer to what’s typical – and for most buyers, that’s a big relief.What does that mean for you? It could give you a better chance to negotiate – whether that’s on price, closing costs, or even repairs. While not every seller will adjust their price, more of them are willing to do it – giving you more leverage than buyers have in quite a while.Bottom LineIf you’ve been on the sidelines, waiting for the right time to buy, this spring could be the opening you’ve been hoping for.Of course, every market is different, and working with a local expert can help you work through your options. If you want to talk about what’s happening in your area or get started on your home search, connect with a local real estate agent.How does today’s rising inventory impact your homebuying plans?

Some HighlightsBefore you even start looking at homes, there’s something you should do first – and that’s get pre-approved for your mortgage.Pre-approval is when a lender checks your finances and decides how much you’re qualified to borrow for your home loan. This helps you determine your budget and makes your offer stand out for sellers.​Connect with a trusted lender to get the process started.

For years, sellers have had the upper hand in the housing market. With so few homes for sale and so many people who wanted to purchase them, buyers faced tough competition just to get an offer accepted. But now, inventory is rising, and things are starting to shift in many areas.So, is the market finally balancing out? And does that mean buyers will have it a bit easier now? Here’s what you need to know.What Makes It a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market?It all comes down to how many homes are for sale in an area compared to how many buyers want to buy there. That’s what ultimately determines who has the most leverage.A Seller’s Market is when there are more buyers than homes available, so sellers hold the power. This leads to rising prices, multiple offers, and homes selling quickly – often above the asking price – because there isn’t enough to go around.A Buyer’s Market is when there are more homes than buyers. In this case, the tables turn. Sellers may have to offer concessions and incentives, or negotiate more to get a deal done. That’s because buyers have more choices and can take their time making decisions.You can see this play out over time using data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the graph below:Where the Market Stands NowWhile it’s still a seller’s market in many places, buyers in certain locations have more leverage than they’ve had in years. And that’s thanks to how much inventory has grown lately. As Lance Lambert, Co-Founder of ResiClub, explains:"Among the nation’s 200 largest metro area housing markets, 41 markets ended January 2025 with more active homes for sale than they had in pre-pandemic January 2019. These are the places where homebuyers will be able to find the most leverage or market balance in 2025."Here’s a look at some of the strongest seller’s markets and buyer’s markets today, according to that research:Do you know how to adjust your plans based on who’s got the most negotiating power? Because an agent does. Clever strategies can make buying in a seller’s market easier – and vice versa. And that’s exactly why you need to hire a pro. A local real estate agent knows their market like the back of their hand. They’re super familiar with what the supply and demand balance looks like and how to help their clients get a deal done either way. So, as long as you have a skilled pro by your side, it doesn’t really matter if your town is on the list or not.With their expertise, you’ll be able to plan ahead and buy (or sell) no matter what the market looks like.Bottom LineWith inventory rising, the market may be starting to balance out – but it all depends on where you want to buy or sell.If you want to know who has the most leverage where you are, talk to a local real estate agent.