Top 10 strongest buyers markets in the country

Buyer… don’t beware?

If you have buyer clients who have been skittish about entering the market, you might want to forward them this edition of the newsletter.

Mortgage rates just fell to a near three-year low. Meanwhile, there’s been a little ease in home price drops, but they are still falling mightily in several markets. And in some markets, sellers are outnumbering buyers two to one!

As usual, we’re going to dig into all the latest data below, and show you where the biggest opportunities lie right now.

With that, let’s get into today’s Blueprint! 

- James and David

Mortgage rates fall to near three-year low, while luxe sales surge

Mortgage rates fell to their lowest level in nearly three years, with the daily average slipping to 6.17% this week. The decline is easing the rise in monthly payments. The typical payment is now $2,556, up just 0.6% year over year, marking the smallest increase in three months, according to CNBC. 

Meanwhile, the luxury market continues to surge. In September, sales of homes priced above $1 million jumped 20% year over year, while lower-priced homes under $100,000 rose only 3%.

Here are the other key data points from September:

• Sales rebound: Sales of previously owned homes rose 1.5% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million units, the strongest pace in seven months and 4.1% higher than a year earlier.

• First-time buyers return: They represented 30% of September’s sales, up from 26% last year. 

• Regional trends: The South and Northeast posted the strongest year-over-year sales gains. Meanwhile, month-over-month sales climbed in the West, but slipped slightly in the Midwest.

• Inventory expands: Listings rose 14% year over year to 1.55 million homes, offering buyers more choices.

• Prices hold firm: The median home price reached $415,200, up 2.1% from a year ago – marking the 27th straight month of annual gains – and 53% above pre-pandemic levels.

Our take

The luxury and investor segments are keeping the housing market afloat. With high-end sales up 20% and nearly a third of all deals paid in cash, wealthier buyers are driving momentum even as affordability challenges sideline many first-time buyers. Pending home sales have fallen for three straight weeks, showing that demand remains soft outside the upper tier of the market. Agents who focus on luxury listings, or cultivate relationships with investor clients, will be best positioned to capitalize

Drop in number of markets with falling home prices

After steadily rising for much of the year, the number of housing markets with year-over-year price declines has finally begun to ease. According to Zillow via ResiClub, 105 of the nation’s 300 largest metros saw home prices fall between September 2024 and September 2025, down from 110 markets just a few months earlier. 

The slowdown in new listings has helped stabilize prices in many regions where supply remains tight, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. However, in parts of the Sun Belt, where inventory has surged and builders continue offering incentives, prices are still retreating.

Here are the markets that saw the greatest year-over-year home price drops in September:

1. Punta Gorda, FL: -12.39%

2. Cape Coral, FL: -10.00%

3. Sarasota, FL: -8.89%

4. Naples, FL: -7.59%

5. Kahului, HI: -6.40%

6. Tampa, FL: -6.17%

7. Austin, TX: -6.00%

8. Vero Beach, FL: -5.95%

9. Daytona Beach, FL: -5.40%

10. Port St. Lucie, FL: -5.06%

Our take

This is a sign that home values may be finding their footing. There’s another opportunity for agents on both sides: buyers still have leverage in soft Sun Belt markets, while sellers in more balanced metros can lean on stabilizing prices and reenter the market with confidence. Agents should use this moment to reset expectations. Remind buyers that timing the absolute bottom is impossible, and help sellers understand that realistic pricing now can keep them ahead of the next upswing.

The strongest buyer markets in the country

Nationwide, there are roughly 37% more sellers than buyers, one of the widest gaps on record. This is a clear sign that the market has shifted in favor of buyers. Redfin data shows that only once before – June 2025 – have sellers so heavily outnumbered buyers, and even then, the difference was only marginally higher. 

Seven metros now have two sellers for every buyer. Those markets are mostly in Texas or Florida, where inventory has surged faster than demand. 

Here are the top 10 buyer’s markets ranked by the percentage by which sellers outnumber buyers:

1. Austin, TX – 130.0%

2. Fort Lauderdale, FL – 118.5%

3. West Palm Beach, FL – 113.0%

4. Miami, FL – 112.2%

5. Nashville, TN – 109.4%

6. San Antonio, TX – 108.9%

7. Dallas, TX – 100.4%

8. Jacksonville, FL – 96.3%

9. Las Vegas, NV – 89.65%

10. Houston, TX – 83.8%

Our take

This is the moment for buyers to be bold. With inventory piling up in key metros and sellers facing more competition than at any point in recent years, well-qualified buyers can afford to negotiate hard on price, terms, and concessions. Agents who guide clients to markets like Austin, South Florida, or Dallas—where leverage has clearly shifted—can help them lock in favorable deals before demand rebounds and balance returns. As we noted in our first story, mortgage rates are near a three-year low. Urge your clients to get going. It’s time to act!

Schematics

The news that just missed the cut

• How agents can stay competitive as AI enters a new phase

• Homebuilder Beezer’s plan to address housing affordability

• 85% of FSBO sellers don’t know what agent commissions are

• Zillow’s latest home value and home sales forecast

• Here’s how many NYC condos have sold for a loss in the last year

Foundation Plans

Advice from James and David to win the day

Our fellow agent Tom Toole just published a banger of a piece explaining why some agents crush their goals and while so many others don’t. We love it. We think it hits the bullseye on so many levels. In fact, we’re going to take the next two editions of this section to go over all of Tom’s takes on what top performers do right! 

1. Stick with what works – Every year, a new “shortcut” or “method” pops up promising instant results. Don’t chase shiny objects. The fundamentals — tracking, follow-up, and staying visible — still win. Success comes from tightening the systems that already work, not replacing them.

2. Protect your attention like it’s money – The best agents don’t try to do everything; they double down on what drives income. Identify your top few activities that actually move deals forward, and delegate the rest. When your focus gets scattered, your results do too.

3. Become a student of your craft –  Treat your skills like your stock portfolio and keep investing in them! Mastery doesn’t happen by accident. Block time every week to sharpen your presentations, refine your communication, and learn from others. The market rewards those who stay sharp when everyone else coasts.

4. Successful agents have a plan and they follow it – Run your day; don’t let it run you. Successful agents don’t just “wing it.” They start each morning knowing exactly what’s on deck and when it’s happening. If it’s in your calendar, it’s real. If it’s not, it’s wishful thinking. The agents who win know when they’re making calls, hosting their webinars, and when they’re following up. They follow the plan, every day. Remember: A plan isn’t a suggestion; it’s a contract with yourself.

As you go into this weekend, read Tom’s piece in full. Let it inspire you, and if it gives you a swift kick in the pants, good!

Just in Case

Keep the latest industry data in your back pocket with today’s mortgage rates:

“You’ve gotta keep control of your time, and you can’t unless you say no. You can’t let people set your agenda in life.” — Warren Buffett

Don’t let events or other people set your agenda. Stay ruthlessly focused on your goals — your time is limited, and you only get one life. Make the most of it.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. We’ll see you back here on Tuesday!

- James and David