See photos and updates from listings directly in your feed
Share your favorite listings with friends and family
Save your search and get new listings directly in your mailbox before everybody else
A recent report from Redfin made headlines with a bold claim: the U.S. housing market has nearly 500,000 more home sellers than buyers, marking the most significant imbalance in over a decade. The data, drawn from April 2025 MLS listings and Redfin’s internal buyer activity estimates, suggests a potential shift toward a buyer’s market.
As a brokerage with a close eye on local trends in Boston and Cape Cod, we can confirm that inventory is indeed rising. Sellers are slowly returning to the market after years of hesitation, motivated by life changes, waning rate-lock inertia, or simply the desire to move. But when it comes to measuring buyer demand, we’re a bit more cautious.
Counting Buyers? Easier Said Than Done
While Redfin’s methodology utilizes web traffic, tour requests, and agent-submitted offers to estimate buyer activity, there is no concrete way to determine how many people are genuinely ready to purchase. Unlike listing inventory, which can be counted directly via MLS data, buyer demand is far more nuanced, influenced by factors such as affordability, financing, timing, and local market conditions.
In our view, Redfin’s point is well taken: demand has softened in many parts of the country due to high mortgage rates and record-high monthly payments. But assigning a specific number to “active buyers” is more of a model than a measurement.
What We’re Seeing in Boston & Cape Cod
Locally, we’re seeing more inventory hitting the market than we’ve seen in recent spring seasons, especially in segments where homeowners had previously held back due to low-rate mortgages. In Boston, condo and single-family inventory have crept up, giving buyers more choices and a bit more leverage in negotiations. Cape Cod, too, is seeing an uptick in listings, particularly among second-home sellers.
That said, buyer interest hasn’t disappeared. Open houses are still busy, and well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods continue to move. But the urgency and bidding wars of 2021 and 2022 have cooled.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
If you’re selling:
- You may have more competition than in years past—pricing and presentation matter more than ever.
- Expect longer days on the market if you’re not priced correctly or in a location with high demand.
If you’re buying:
- You’ll likely find more options than in the past two spring seasons.
- While rates are still elevated, the balance of power is shifting slightly in your favor.
Bottom Line
Redfin’s claim about a half-million more sellers than buyers may be directionally accurate, but let’s not overstate it. Buyer demand is complex and can’t be counted like listings. Still, the overall message remains true: in many markets, the tides are shifting.
Here in Boston and Cape Cod, we’re seeing real signs of a more balanced market, and that’s something both buyers and sellers should pay attention to.
Want to know what this means for your home or your next move? Let’s talk local—because in real estate, national headlines don’t always tell the whole story.
