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● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 13 sources tracked

Home Sales Edge Up as Higher Rates Give Buyers More Bargaining Power

US existing home sales rose in September for the first time since spring, climbing 1.5% from August. Despite the modest monthly gain, sales remained 2.2% lower than the same period a year ago. Elevated mortgage rates topping 7% continue to restrict overall purchasing power and keep many prospective shoppers on the sidelines. However, this environment has shifted market dynamics to give active buyers increased negotiating leverage. Sellers are responding to mounting inventory and cooling demand by offering price cuts and creative concessions, including paying to lower mortgage rates, which can outvalue standard price reductions.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ US existing home sales rose 1.5% in September from August.
  • ✓ Existing home sales remained 2.2% below their level from a year ago.
  • ✓ Pending home sales dropped 12.7% from a year ago with declines in all 50 major metros.
  • ✓ US home sellers outnumber buyers by a record 63%.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 13 independent reporting domains (95% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~3 min

What changed

Existing home sales increased in September for the first time since the spring season.

Live updates

  1. US Home Sales Edge Up as Elevated Mortgage Rates Boost Buyer Leverage

    US existing home sales rose in September for the first time since spring, climbing 1.5% from August. Despite the modest monthly gain, sales remained 2.2% lower than the same period a year ago. Elevated mortgage rates topping 7% continue to restrict overall purchasing power and keep many prospective shoppers on the sidelines. However, this environment has shifted market dynamics to give active buyers increased negotiating leverage. Sellers are responding to mounting inventory and cooling demand by offering price cuts and creative concessions, including paying to lower mortgage rates, which can outvalue standard price reductions.

    Why it matters

    The broader real estate sector faces persistent affordability pressures, with pending home sales sinking near a 12-year low and dropping 12.7% from a year ago across all 50 major metropolitan areas. National data indicates that home sellers outnumber buyers by a record 63%, as pricey mortgages and shaky personal finances discourage shoppers. This accumulation of listings nationwide marks a distinct shift from the hyper-competitive pandemic boom, forcing sellers to adapt to a cooling market where active buyers possess significantly more bargaining power.

    What is confirmed

    • US existing home sales rose 1.5% in September from August.
    • Existing home sales remained 2.2% below their level from a year ago.
    • Pending home sales dropped 12.7% from a year ago with declines in all 50 major metros.
    • US home sellers outnumber buyers by a record 63%.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Mortgage rates are topping 7%, cutting buyer purchasing power and pushing pending home sales near a 12-year low.

    What to watch next

    • Upcoming monthly existing-home sales reports to see if the September increase signals a sustained trend.
    • Further movements in mortgage interest rates and their impact on inventory accumulation.
    • Changes in seller concession strategies as listings continue to stack up nationwide.
    Sources used for this update (15)
    1. Reuters — US existing home sales rise in September; higher mortgage rates dim outlook
    2. help.naver.com — Futures Flat As Oil Rebounds After Trump's "Energy Ceasefire" Unravels, Memory Stocks Slide | ZeroHedge
    3. Yahoo Finance — Home Sales Edge Up as Higher Rates Give Buyers More Bargaining Power
    4. WSJ — Home Sales Rose in September for the First Time Since Spring
    5. PR Newswire — U.S. Pending Home Sales Sink Near 12-Year Low
    6. Mortgage News Daily — Existing Home Sales Treading Same Old Water
    7. National Mortgage Professional — Pending Home Sales Down 12.7% From A Year Ago, With Declines In All 50 Major Metros
    8. www.prnewswire.com — Realtor.com® Market Clock® Report: Buyers Gain Ground as ...
    9. finance.yahoo.com — Something shifted in the housing market, and sellers felt it ...
    10. jen.jiji.com — Healthcare: Alzheimer, Altems analysis 'priority to ensure homogeneous diagnoses and treatments' (2)
    11. nypost.com — US home sellers outnumber buyers by record 63% - New York Post
    12. www.foxbusiness.com — Homebuyers get an advantage in dozens of US cities — but pay a steep price
    confidence 95%
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