Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 7
44% of Agents See Balanced Housing Market as Price Cuts Drop to 57%
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 7

44% of Agents See Balanced Housing Market as Price Cuts Drop to 57%

1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 7

Summary

  • 44% of agents in CNBC’s second-quarter survey said the housing market is now balanced between buyers and sellers, up from 30% in the third quarter of 2025.
  • 57% reported at least one active listing with a price cut, down from 89% last year, as sellers align asking prices more closely with market conditions and contract cancellations ease to 40% from 51% in Q1.
  • 3% year-over-year growth in May home sales and a 2.5% annual drop in June asking prices point to more supply and softer pricing, while national home prices were still up just under 1%.
  • 37% of agents now cite mortgage rates as buyers’ biggest concern, up from 26% at the end of last year, with the 30-year fixed hovering around 6.6% after peaking at 6.75% in May.
  • 19% of agents expect sales to improve soon, down from 48% last year, suggesting that even as inventory rises to 1.1 million listings, high borrowing costs are capping optimism.

Insights

The U.S. housing market is in a standoff. Who will blink first: buyers facing high rates or sellers refusing to cut prices?
As the national housing market cools, why are some Midwest and Northeast cities still seeing home prices surge to new highs?