Home sellers across the United States are increasingly choosing to remove their properties from the market rather than lowering their asking prices, a shift that is reshaping the housing market dynamics and changing the way agents and brokers approach sales strategies. Recent data from Realtor.com reveals a striking 45.5% year-over-year increase in delisted homes through October 2025, marking the fastest pace in three years. In October alone, for every 100 new listings that appeared on the market, 27 were pulled off, signaling a growing reluctance among sellers to make price reductions. This trend is especially prevalent in high-priced metropolitan areas such as Miami, Denver, and Houston, where the number of delistings has been particularly pronounced.
This significant rise in delistings is largely attributed to persistent affordability pressures and elevated borrowing costs, which have dampened buyer demand in the housing market. The combination of higher mortgage rates and higher home prices has made it more difficult for potential buyers to enter the market, leading many to hold off on making offers. While inventory continues to rise as more homes are listed for sale, many sellers remain hesitant to accept price reductions, fearing that doing so could result in a financial loss or a significant devaluation of their property. As a result, rather than adjusting their asking prices to align with the softer demand, sellers are opting to simply remove their homes from the market.
This decision to delist homes instead of lowering prices represents a change in strategy for many sellers, who were previously more inclined to adjust their price expectations to secure a sale. However, the current market conditions—characterized by a mix of higher mortgage rates, inflation, and economic uncertainty—have created a situation where many sellers feel that removing their properties from the market is a safer option. This trend reflects the broader challenges facing the housing market, where rising borrowing costs have created a disconnect between what sellers are willing to accept and what buyers can afford. With affordability increasingly becoming a barrier, the number of sellers opting to delist their homes has surged.
As this shift in behavior continues, real estate agents have had to adapt to the changing dynamics. In response to the growing number of delistings, agents are reassessing their approach to pricing and marketing. Rather than simply advising clients to reduce prices in response to slower sales, agents are now focusing on helping sellers refine their pricing strategies to better align with the market. They are also emphasizing value-driven marketing techniques, helping to showcase the unique features of homes in order to attract the attention of qualified buyers who are still active in the market. Given the current financial climate, agents are working hard to position homes in the best possible light, using targeted marketing strategies to highlight their value and appeal to those buyers who are still looking for properties.
While the rise in delistings may signal a cooling off of the housing market, it also reflects broader economic pressures on both buyers and sellers. Buyers, grappling with higher borrowing costs and the increased cost of living, are finding it more difficult to secure financing for new homes, leading them to be more cautious and selective when it comes to making offers. On the other hand, sellers, who have enjoyed years of rising home values, are reluctant to lower their prices and accept less than what they believe their homes are worth. This reluctance, coupled with a shortage of affordable options for buyers, is creating a standoff that is driving more properties off the market rather than facilitating sales.
This shift could have lasting implications for the housing market as we move into the winter months. While rising inventory might suggest a cooling market, the increasing number of delistings shows that sellers are finding it harder to navigate the current conditions. With mortgage rates still elevated and affordability continuing to be a challenge, it remains to be seen how long this trend will continue and whether it will lead to further price adjustments or even more widespread delistings. For now, both buyers and sellers are left to adapt to a market that is more complex and unpredictable than in recent years, and real estate professionals are left to help them navigate this new, evolving landscape.
