US home sellers outnumber active buyers by 63 percent

The United States housing market recorded an estimated 62.6 percent surplus of home sellers compared to buyers in September. Redfin News, TradingView, PR Newswire, National Mortgage Professional, and Benzinga all reported that sellers now outnumber buyers by approximately 63 percent. Redfin News stated that this represents the largest gap in records dating back to 2013 and marks the fourth consecutive month of record-breaking margins, up from 56.9 percent reported in August. [1][2][8][9][10]

Redfin News reported that the volume of buyers fell to its lowest point since 2013, while listing inventory reached its highest point. Redfin News noted that house hunters held more leverage than at any point since the housing market crash following the 2008 financial crisis. Regional inventory expansion in the Sun Belt contributed significantly to the national seller surplus, with high listing concentrations centered in cities such as Miami. [1][13]

Separate survey data from Zillow Research indicates shifts in seller motivation and demographic profiles. Zillow Research reported that 52 percent of sellers cited profit as their top priority, down from 58 percent in 2025, while 36 percent prioritized meeting a specific transaction timeline. Zillow Research also found that repeat buyers made up 58 percent of successful buyers in 2026, up from 55 percent in 2025, with millennials forming the largest buyer segment at 34 percent. [3][4]

As FTMQ Real Estate reported earlier, real estate sellers are increasingly prioritizing speed as inventory ratios expand nationwide. National Mortgage Professional reported that pending home sales pulled back near a 12-year low, while Benzinga reported that buyers canceled one in seven purchase agreements in September due to ongoing housing affordability challenges. [9][10][14]