New Listings Rise, Pending Sales Fall Amid Rising Mortgage Rates

In July, 1 in 7 home-purchase agreements fell through, the highest share in nearly three years. But cancellations aren’t suddenly surging, the bigger story is that buyers have more negotiating power. With nearly 51% more sellers than buyers, homebuyers have more options and more leverage when inspections uncover problems, appraisals come in low or the terms of a deal aren’t right. Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather, PhD and Redfin agent Vanessa Leimback, CAM, break down what’s happening, and what buyers and sellers can do to navigate today’s housing market. For buyers: Know your priorities before negotiating and use comparable sales to make a competitive offer. For sellers: Price appropriately, consider pre-marketing your home and address potential issues before they derail a deal. https://lnkd.in/eQadenDG

AI is transforming more than technology. It's reshaping communities. While data centers power everything from AI tools to streaming services, a recent Redfin survey found that most Americans don't want one built near their home. So why are communities continuing to invest in them? In this video, Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather, PhD, and Northern Virginia Redfin Premier Agent Matt Ferris, explore the tradeoffs of AI infrastructure, from its impact on local housing markets to the tax revenue helping fund schools and other public services. https://lnkd.in/eigTVNmn

Prospective home sellers are backing off because homebuying demand has slowed down. Pending home sales ticked down 0.2% week over week during the week, ending May 31st - a small decline, but the third in a row. “The market has been tilted in buyer’s favor for many months, but their advantage started to shrink last month. With new supply declining now, people who are serious about selling their home may want to jump in while there’s at least slightly less competition from other sellers,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economics research. #realestate https://lnkd.in/eZks2UmA

The housing market is picking up momentum heading into spring. Redfin’s latest monthly housing market report found U.S. home prices rose 2.4% year over year in April, the biggest increase in over a year, while pending home sales climbed to their highest level since 2023. At the same time, active listings have hit the highest level since 2020. It’s still a buyer's market, but it’s starting to look more balanced than it did just a year ago. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gm_qscaN

Data tells the story. Accessibility brings it to life. Redfin’s Data Center just got a fresh new look, making it even easier to explore housing market trends at both the national and local level. From home prices and inventory shifts and market competitiveness, the platform gives journalists, analysts, buyers, sellers, creators and housing enthusiasts direct access to downloadable real estate data, completely free. As conversations around housing continue to evolve, accessible data helps turn headlines into deeper insight. The only thing we ask is that you cite Redfin as the source! Explore the new experience: https://lnkd.in/eGvq_DF 

The hottest list in real estate is back 🔥 Redfin data experts just ranked 2026’s hottest neighborhoods, and for the second year in a row, the Midwest is leading the way. Homes are moving faster, and competition is holding strong across many of these markets. What stands out isn’t just where these neighborhoods are. It’s what they signal. Demand is building in places that are often overlooked, and that’s shaping where buyers and sellers are finding opportunity right now. #realestate Explore the full list: https://lnkd.in/gTGcnviw

Redfin: Early 2026 Shows Slow Momentum, But Recovery Signals Are Emerging Redfin’s early 2026 data suggests that the year began with relatively slow momentum, reflecting lingering caution among buyers and sellers after years of rate volatility. However, underlying indicators are starting to shift. New listings are gradually increasing, and buyer costs are trending lower, which historically precedes a pickup in closed transactions. These early-stage signals matter because real estate markets tend to move with a lag. Changes in listing behavior, price adjustments, and days on market often provide more timely insight into where demand and liquidity are heading than closed sales alone. In other words, the recovery phase tends to appear first in the data before it becomes visible in headline transaction numbers. For market participants, this reinforces the importance of tracking leading indicators in near real time. In a slower-growth environment, informational advantage becomes a differentiator.

For many homeowners, the decision to sell isn’t just financial; it’s deeply personal. Timing, though, can play a meaningful role in how that experience unfolds. New data shows that homes listed in late April, tend to sell faster and at a premium. “Late April hits a sweet spot for home sellers: buyers are out in force, but the market isn’t yet flooded with competing listings,” said Aziz Sunderji, housing economist and founder of data visualization consultancy Home Economics. It’s a helpful reminder that while every move is unique, understanding the rhythm of the market can give sellers more clarity and confidence in their next step. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gdqHQGey

Selling a home can feel like an all-or-nothing decision. A lot of homeowners wish it didn’t have to. “There are homeowners out there who want to sell, but they need a low-risk way to gauge the housing market before committing. Testing the waters with Redfin Early Access can help homeowners feel more confident and ultimately help them feel at peace with their home-selling journey,” said Jason Aleem, Redfin Chief of Real Estate Services. Redfin Early Access was built to give sellers more flexibility and a little more peace of mind before officially hitting the market by allowing them to test pricing strategies and gauge interest. Read more about Redfin Early Access here: https://lnkd.in/gg7RJi4B

From turning tassels to planting roots, these are the best U.S. cities for recent college graduates. We partnered with Glassdoor to find out which big, midsize, and small U.S. cities offer the best mix of career opportunity, housing affordability, and work-life balance for young professionals: https://lnkd.in/gYSTXvJC Rankings are based on a Redfin–Glassdoor analysis of U.S. metro areas using aggregated housing, employment, and quality‑of‑life data from 2018–2025, including 2025 Redfin home sales and Glassdoor salary, employer review, and job posting data. Results reflect normalized and weighted indicators and are for informational purposes only; they do not constitute financial, housing, or career advice.