Market News March 27

Market Updates

Today's Market News:

Buyer's Market Strengthens in Sunny Metros


Last month, the real estate market became more of a buyer's market than it has for over 12 years. There were an estimated 629,808 more home sellers than buyers during February 2026. This adds up to a 29.8% annual increase in the number of active sellers.

Last month, the strongest buyer's market was Miami, Florida, which had an estimated 163% more sellers than buyers. Next came Nashville, Tennessee (120%), Austin, Texas (112%), West Palm Beach, Florida (110%) and San Antonio, Texas (104%).

Reasons for Florida becoming a buyer's market include the additional costs associated with home ownership. Rising insurance premiums have prompted some homeowners to relocate, together with the risk of hurricanes. And since Miami has a particularly high number of condominiums, rising HOA fees discourage some potential buyers.

However, not all sellers are suffering. The strongest seller markets are in the North region, with Newark, New Jersey coming in first place with 31.1% fewer sellers than buyers. Other top seller markets include Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Nassau County, New York and New Brunswick, New Jersey.1

Buyers Seeking Lifestyle-Rich Properties


While move-in ready properties are still popular this year, buyers are now paying extra for cottages with lifestyle-driven amenities, such as picturesque views and outdoor fireplaces and kitchens.

Research shows that move-in-ready homes that make every day feel like a getaway are selling for as much as 5.4% more than expected. The modern coastal aesthetic is especially popular.

Here are some of the features buyers are willing to pay for:

  • Waterfront homes sell for 3% more, and homes with a dock sell for 5.4% more.
  • An outdoor kitchen can boost sale prices by 4.4%, while outdoor showers add 4.3%, and outdoor fireplaces can bump up the price by 2.8%.
  • Kitchens with quartzite countertops sell for 5.3% more than expected.
  • Golf simulators can boost a home's price by 2.7% on average.
Even the word "cottage" is being included in searches and is associated with a 3.2% sale premium.2

Apps That Prioritize Your Safety 24/7


Even if you already subscribe to an app that prioritizes your safety, you may want to review the offerings for 2026. Here are some phone-based apps popular with agents and regional associations.

Features include assistance with emergency calls, background checks, and non-safety features such as tracking business mileage. All are available for iPhone and Android users.

Tether RE: Designed especially for real estate professionals. Recently, the Android version of the app was updated.

FOREWARN: In addition to confirming identities, it will also assist you with researching a prospect's financial history and current assets.

eBodyGuard: This app prioritizes your safety when alone. Features include voice-activated emergency alerts, even if you're carrying your phone in your handbag or a pocket. It also provides real-time location sharing.

Real Safe Agent: In addition to agents' ability to warn others of potential threats, they have the option to join and network with family, friends, colleagues and agent groups.3

Property Price Growth Continues to Cool


Redfin's Home Price Index (HPI), an equal-weighted repeat sales index, recently announced that home prices rose just 0.1% from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis. This was the slowest adjusted growth in seven months.

Prices fell in 16 major metros, with the biggest declines in Jacksonville, Florida, Providence, Rhode Island and Columbus, Ohio.

Many would-be buyers continue to postpone their plans for several reasons. Last week, the daily average mortgage rate rose to a six-month high of 6.53%. In addition, the nation is grappling with economic uncertainty, a lukewarm employment market, and announcements of mass layoffs by Amazon and UPS.4

Are the Best Weeks to List Just Ahead?

When it comes to real estate sales, it's tempting to try and predict the hottest weeks of the year. Several big names in real estate have done this, basing their predictions on historic data and other factors.

Realtor.com is currently predicting that the week of April 12th to the 18th will be a "sweet spot" for listings because of higher sale prices, fewer price reductions and more buyer traffic. During 2025, homes listed during April 12th to the 18th spent 10 days less on the market when compared to the annual average of 60 days. Historically, homes that go on sale that week enjoy over 16% more views when compared to a typical week.

Meanwhile, Zillow's analysis suggests that sellers who list during the last two weeks in May will see the best ROI, netting around $6,000 more based on national averages — and a significantly higher premium in some markets.

Although the reports recommend different ideal selling windows, they share a common theme for agents advising clients: List early enough to beat the inventory surge, but late enough to meet rising buyer demand.5

Sources: 1redfin.com, 2zillow.mediaroom.com, 3nar.realtor.com, 4redfin.com, 5realtor.com