U.S. Homebuyers Hit Record Low as Sellers Outnumber Buyers in July

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The July Redfin report gives loan officers a clearer way to talk about buyer leverage without glossing over affordability pressure.

U.S. homebuyers hit record low in July, according to a Redfin report published August 13, 2026, as the number of buyers in the market fell to about 967,000. Redfin said sellers totaled about 1,463,000, leaving sellers outnumbering buyers by 51% and pushing the market further in buyers’ favor.

For mortgage professionals, the story is not just softer demand. It is the combination of more negotiating room and still-tough affordability, which means qualified buyers may have better leverage, while many would-be buyers remain sidelined by historically high housing costs.

Key takeaways

• Redfin reported about 967,000 U.S. homebuyers in July, a record low in its data.
• There were about 1,463,000 sellers, meaning sellers outnumbered buyers by 51%.
• Nearly 80% of major U.S. metros were buyer’s markets, according to Redfin.
• High housing costs remain the main pressure point, so buyer leverage does not erase affordability challenges.

Sources

• Redfin News — The Number of U.S. Homebuyers Just Dropped to a Record Low, Shifting the Market Further in Buyers’ Favor

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