Nearly half of surveyed U.S. real estate agents now describe the housing market as balanced between buyers and sellers [1].
This shift indicates a significant departure from the seller-dominated conditions that characterized the market for several years. As buyers regain negotiating power, the volatility of recent years appears to be stabilizing across the United States [4].
According to the second-quarter 2026 CNBC Housing Market Survey, 44 percent of agents said they see a balanced market [1]. This data suggests that the extreme leverage previously held by homeowners is diminishing as market dynamics evolve [1].
Real estate professionals said the transition is occurring as buyers find more room to negotiate terms and pricing [4]. This trend marks a pivotal change in the residential landscape, where the scarcity of inventory and aggressive bidding wars had previously pushed prices upward [4].
While the market is moving toward equilibrium, agents continue to monitor how these shifts affect overall affordability. The current trajectory suggests a more sustainable environment for new homeowners who struggled during the height of the seller's market [4].
“44 percent of agents report seeing a balanced market”
The transition to a balanced market suggests that the period of rapid, seller-driven price appreciation is cooling. For consumers, this means a return to traditional negotiation, where buyers can request repairs or price concessions without the immediate fear of losing a property to a higher bid. For the broader economy, a balanced market typically signals a stabilization of housing costs, potentially easing the pressure on mortgage affordability.
