The week of Oct. 12–18 will be the best time for homebuyers in 2025, according to Realtor.com’s annual Best Time to Buy Report.
The analysis projects buyers could see 32.6% more active listings compared to the start of the year, home prices averaging $15,000 lower than summer peaks and 30.6% less competition.
“After years of constrained conditions, the 2025 housing market is giving buyers something they haven’t had in a long time: options,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “I expect this market momentum shift to magnify typical seasonal trends that favor homebuyers in the fall.
“In a year that’s been the most buyer-friendly in nearly a decade, it’s the best window of opportunity for homebuyers all year.”
The report highlights several factors driving mid-October’s advantage:
- Listings are at their highest point since before the pandemic, offering buyers more choices.
- High mortgage rates and affordability challenges have slowed buyer activity, reducing competition.
- Homes are spending longer on the market, giving buyers more time to negotiate.
- Prices are on average 3.4% below peak levels, with roughly 5.5% of homes seeing reductions.
- New listings typically increase by about 15.7% compared to early-year levels.
Active listings surpassed 1 million in late spring, a milestone not reached in years. Elevated borrowing costs and stronger rental alternatives have also sidelined some buyers, adding to available supply.
“While the market has not yet tipped into a full ‘buyer’s market,’ conditions are more balanced than they have been in years,” Hale said. “This represents a significant shift after a period of historically tight supply and intense competition that left many home shoppers priced out.”
The timing of buyer-friendly conditions varies by region.
Markets such as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas are expected to peak earlier — while Florida metros like Miami and Tampa may not see the same conditions until December.
Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. align with the national mid-October timing.
Across the 50 largest metros, 45 see their best weeks for buyers within one month of Oct. 12–18.