Neither side holds all the leverage in the current market, and that balance changes the tactics that work for both.
Inventory thaw
More listings and slower absorption mean buyers have room to consider, inspect and negotiate. The reflexive urgency of recent years has faded in most areas.
Moderation, not collapse
Price growth has slowed rather than reversed in most markets. Sellers who anchor to peak pricing struggle. Sellers who price to current activity generally still do well, which is a very different situation from a downturn.
The new dynamic
Buyers can negotiate on terms as well as price: repairs, closing costs, rate buydowns and timing. Sellers who understand which concession costs them least often keep more of the headline number than sellers who only defend price.
Technology and design
Well-presented, efficient, flexible homes are separating from the rest. In a balanced market, presentation quality becomes a differentiator rather than a formality.
Using the balance
Both sides can act rather than wait. That is the practical difference between this market and the one that preceded it.
Read the full breakdown on HouseCashers.com