Homebuying Demand Slows, Giving Buyers More Room to Negotiate

Redfin’s national metrics cover more than 900 U.S. metro areas and reflect the four weeks ending July 26, 2026. Weekly figures can be revised. National conditions do not determine the balance of power in every city, neighborhood or price tier.

Redfin also reported that home tours were up 15% from the start of 2026, compared with a 31% increase at the same point in 2025. Seasonally adjusted mortgage-purchase applications were down 4% week over week but remained 3% above a year earlier, according to MBA data cited by Redfin.

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Pending Sales Lose Momentum

U.S. pending home sales totaled 322,739 during the four weeks ending July 26. That was up 1.5% from a year earlier but down 1.7% from the prior week, the lowest level in more than three months.

Touring activity also lost momentum. Tours were up 15% from the start of the year, far below the 31% gain recorded at the same point last year. High rates and economic uncertainty appear to be causing more buyers to pause.

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Lower Asking Prices Offer Partial Relief

Affordability remains difficult, but the median monthly housing payment fell to $2,575, its lowest level in three months and 1.3% below a year earlier. Redfin attributed the decline to lower asking prices, even as mortgage rates stayed elevated.

The median sale price was $407,752, up 2.8% year over year and roughly $2,000 below its record. That combination shows why the market can feel mixed: prices remain historically high, but softer listing prices and slower competition can create openings for individual buyers.

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Where Buyer Leverage Is Showing Up

Active listings rose to nearly 1.49 million, and Redfin noted that there were still hundreds of thousands more sellers than buyers nationwide. In many markets, that imbalance gives prepared buyers more time to inspect homes and negotiate.

Homes that have lingered, received a price cut or need updates may offer the strongest opportunities. Buyers can ask for a lower price, closing-cost assistance, repair credits or a rate buydown, depending on local inventory and seller motivation.

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A National Shift, Not a Universal Rule

The market is not uniformly buyer-friendly. Months of supply stood at 3.6, below the four to five months Redfin considers balanced. About 28% of homes still sold above list price. Desirable homes can continue to attract multiple offers even when national demand cools.

Buyers should therefore pair national headlines with local evidence. Recent comparable sales, days on market, price-reduction history and the number of competing offers provide a better basis for negotiation than a national average alone.

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