Active U.S. homebuyers fall to about 967,000, lowest since 2013

The number of active homebuyers in the United States fell to about 967,000 in July, the lowest level since Redfin began tracking the measure in 2013, the brokerage said in a new report covered by the New York Post.

That buyer pool is about 34 percent smaller than the number of active sellers, giving shoppers more leverage in many markets. Compared with July 2025, buyers are down about 5.5 percent from roughly 1.02 million.

Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather told the Post that home prices remain high and that mortgage rates rose to their highest level in a year in July, making monthly payments hard for many households to afford. Economic uncertainty is also causing some buyers to wait, she said.

From June to July, estimated buyers fell 2.5 percent while sellers fell only 0.3 percent. Fairweather said that left nearly half a million more sellers than buyers nationwide. With more homes competing for fewer buyers, remaining shoppers can negotiate harder on price and concessions.

Sellers outnumbered buyers by about 51.3 percent in July, up from 47.9 percent in June and near a record peak of 51.8 percent set in December. More than three-quarters of the 49 metros Redfin analyzed, 39 markets, ranked as buyer markets.

Texas metros were among the most tilted toward buyers. Houston had about 130 percent more sellers than buyers in July, followed by San Antonio at 116 percent and Austin at 112 percent. Miami and Nashville also ranked near the top of seller-heavy lists. Those markets were hot for sellers during the pandemic and have since cooled as inventory returned.

For adults 50 and older who plan to sell, the data point to longer listing times and a need for realistic pricing. For buyers with cash or strong credit, the wider gap between sellers and buyers can mean more choices and room to ask for repairs or closing-cost help.