There Are Now 51% More Home Sellers Than Buyers in the U.S.
For years, homebuyers competed over limited inventory, waived contingencies and often had very little negotiating power.
That dynamic has changed.
According to Redfin, there were 51% more home sellers than buyers nationwide in July 2026, creating one of the largest imbalances between buyers and sellers in recent history.
And in several Southern California housing markets, the divide is even greater.
Southern California Has Shifted Toward Buyers
In July, Redfin estimated that sellers outnumbered buyers by:
• 68.5% in Riverside
• 61.7% in Los Angeles
• 35.3% in Anaheim
• 30.3% in San Diego
All four markets are now considered buyer’s markets based on Redfin’s analysis.
That doesn’t mean Southern California real estate suddenly became inexpensive. Home prices remain high, mortgage rates continue to challenge affordability and desirable properties can still attract significant competition.
But buyers now have something they haven’t consistently had in years: leverage.
What Does a Buyer’s Market Actually Mean?
A buyer’s market doesn’t mean every seller will accept a low offer.
It means the balance between supply and demand has shifted.
When there are more sellers competing for fewer active buyers, buyers generally have more properties to choose from and may have greater negotiating power.
That can show up in several ways.
A seller may be willing to negotiate on price. Another may agree to provide a credit toward closing costs. Others may contribute toward a mortgage rate buydown or become more flexible on repairs and other terms.
The asking price is only one part of a real estate negotiation.
We’re Seeing Buyers Negotiate Better Terms
This isn’t just showing up in national housing data.
We’re seeing it happen in our own Southern California transactions.
Buyers are successfully negotiating seller credits toward closing costs, rate buydowns and other concessions that can reduce the upfront or ongoing cost of purchasing a home.
For a buyer dealing with today’s mortgage rates, those concessions can sometimes be more valuable than a small reduction in purchase price.
That’s why understanding the seller’s position and structuring the right offer matters.
The Buyers Sitting Out Are Creating the Opportunity
There’s an interesting contradiction in today’s housing market.
Buyers have more negotiating leverage, but many potential buyers aren’t using it.
High home prices and mortgage rates have pushed a significant number of people to the sidelines. That reduction in demand is precisely what has helped create today’s imbalance between buyers and sellers.
For buyers who are financially prepared and still want to own a home, that can create opportunities that didn’t exist when dozens of buyers were competing for every listing.
This Doesn’t Mean You Should Buy Just Because You Can
A buyer’s market doesn’t automatically mean it’s the right time for everyone to purchase a home.
Your income, monthly payment, savings, timeline and long-term plans still matter far more than a national statistic.
But if you’ve been waiting specifically for buyers to regain some negotiating power, it’s worth understanding how much the market has changed.
Don’t assume the listing price is the final price.
Don’t assume a seller won’t contribute toward your closing costs.
And don’t assume you have no leverage simply because Southern California housing remains expensive.
Sometimes the only way to find out what a seller is willing to do is to make the offer.
If you’re considering buying in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside or San Diego, our team can help you understand where buyers currently have leverage and what we’re seeing sellers agree to in actual transactions.
Source: Redfin, July 2026
