These 8 US housing markets favor buyers

• The eight buyer's markets are Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, and Riverside, California - with half located in Florida
• Active listings in markets like Riverside and Austin have surged 222% and 330% respectively since March 2022, well above the national average of 172%
• Four markets (Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, Tampa) shifted from balanced to buyer's markets between June and December 2025, giving buyers leverage to negotiate prices and concessions

Summary: Eight US Housing Markets Favor Buyers

A new quarterly report from Realtor.com's economist research team identifies only eight metro areas among the top 50 US markets as buyer's markets, representing just 16% of major metros analyzed.

Key Findings:

The report's Market Clock diagnostic tool—which tracks months of supply, time on market, price changes, and list-to-sale ratios—found that 46% of top markets are balanced, 26% favor sellers, and only 16% favor buyers. The remaining 12% were not specified.

Buyer's Market Locations:

All eight buyer's markets are located in the South and West:

• Florida (4): Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa
• Texas (1): Austin
• Georgia (1): Atlanta
• Tennessee (1): Nashville
• California (1): Riverside

No buyer's markets were identified in the Northeast or Midwest, where strong demand and limited supply maintain balanced conditions or favor sellers.

Market Dynamics:

These eight metros show ample housing inventory with growing listings and sellers reducing prices. Active listings have surged dramatically since 2022 when higher interest rates reset the market. Riverside and another unnamed market saw increases of 222% and 330% respectively, significantly exceeding the national average of 172% since March 2022.

Market Trends:

Between June 2025 and year-end, Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, and Jacksonville shifted from balanced markets to buyer's markets, while Miami, Orlando, and Tampa maintained their buyer's market status.

Implications:

Senior economist Jake Krimmel notes prospective buyers in these metros have leverage for negotiating prices and concessions this spring, benefiting from increased time and options.