Number of Homes for Sale Up from Last Year, but Below Pre-Pandemic Years

by Cecilia Kleiner 02/08/2023

 

The biggest challenge in the housing market right now, and likely for years to come, is how few homes there are for sale compared to the number of people who want to buy. That’s why, if you’re thinking about selling your house, this is a great time to do so. Your house would be welcome in a market that has fewer homes for sale than it did in the years leading up to the pandemic.

 

According to the latest Monthly Housing Market Trends Report from realtor.com:

 

“There were 65.5% more homes for sale in January compared to the same time in 2022. This means that there were 248,000 more homes available to buy this past month compared to one year ago. While the number of homes for sale is increasing, it is still 43.2% lower than it was before the pandemic in 2017 to 2019. This means that there are still fewer homes available to buy on a typical day than there were a few years ago.”

 

The graph below shows how today’s inventory of homes for sale compares to recent years:

 

Number of Homes for Sale Up from Last Year, but Below Pre-Pandemic Years | Simplifying The Market

 

What Does This Mean for You?

 

Fewer homes for sale means buyers have fewer choices than they did prior to the pandemic—and that frustration is leading some to give up on the homebuying process altogether. But with mortgage rates sitting lower than they were at the peak last fall, more buyers are willing to come back into the process—they just need to find homes to buy. This is welcome activity for the spring market, especially if you’re thinking of selling your house.

 

With a renewed interest in buying a home for many, the New York Times (NYT) reports:

 

“Home buyers are edging back into the market after being sidelined last year . . .”

 

So, if you want to take advantage of a sweet spot in the market, this spring could be your shot.

 

The housing market needs more homes for sale to meet the demand of today’s buyers. If you’ve thought about selling, now’s the time for us to connect and get ready for you to make a move this spring.

About the Author
Author

Cecilia Kleiner

Your Trusted Resource for Real Estate

@properties shares my commitment to offering the most comprehensive and professional marketing, sophisticated technology, and expert market knowledge, supporting the highest standards of service and representation you expect and deserve. With local leadership and national and international reach, I bring results to clients wherever their buying and selling goals take them. I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.  

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