09/14/2026
What I'd tell buyers and sellers this week
Buyers: You have leverage, particularly on homes that have been sitting. With roughly 70% of Zillow-tracked sales closing below asking, don't assume list price is the final price. Look closely at days on market, previous reductions and competing inventory before writing the offer.
Sellers: The market is giving a very clear warning against "testing the market." Buyers have choices, and approximately one-third of active single-family listings in one September analysis have already reduced their price. Meanwhile, the typical Redfin sale is approximately 2.7% below list. Pricing slightly ahead of the competition is likely to work better than starting high and chasing buyers downward.
The positive seller story: Homes are selling. In fact, Redfin reports considerably more sales than a year ago. The problem isn't a complete absence of buyers; it's getting buyers to choose your property over the alternatives.