Metro Denver’s real estate landscape has firmly shifted into a buyer’s market, as recent data from Redfin indicates that the number of home sellers now exceeds that of buyers by a significant margin. According to a report released on Thursday, Redfin, a Seattle-based residential real estate brokerage firm, noted that in April, the estimated number of home sellers across the U.S. reached approximately 1.9 million, while there were only about 1.5 million homebuyers. This data translates to a notable 33.7% advantage favoring buyers nationally. In Metro Denver specifically, statistics show there were 16,357 active sellers compared to just 11,526 buyers, resulting in a stark 42% ratio favoring buyers. Nationally, this trend is echoed in 32 out of the 50 markets analyzed by Redfin, positioning Denver at the 19th ranking, nestled between Los Angeles and Anaheim. This significant change marks a historical high, with sellers outnumbering buyers by the largest percentage since records began in 2013. A mere year ago, sellers only outnumbered buyers by 6.5%, and two years prior, buyers were in excess over sellers. Real estate professionals acknowledge this shift, with Cooper Thayer, a Realtor with The Thayer Group Keller Williams Action Realty in Castle Rock, corroborating that the numbers will provide more clarity in May. “I would definitely agree that metro Denver is now a buyer’s market,” Thayer stated in an email, emphasizing the skewed ratio of buyers to sellers. He noted that with an increase in available listings, the diminished buyer pool grants buyers greater leverage as sellers compete for attention. This trend appears most pronounced in southern Florida, where in places like Miami, sellers outnumber buyers three-to-one, while markets like West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale follow closely behind. Austin, Texas, is also experiencing a significant surplus of sellers, with their numbers exceeding buyers by 124%. Phoenix reveals a similar situation, with double the number of sellers as buyers. The challenges facing sellers in these regions can be partly attributed to an influx of condos, which have seen rising insurance premiums and homeowners association dues in the wake of severe storms and incidents such as the tragic Surfside condo collapse in July 2021. Post-pandemic population surges in Florida added to heightened demand, contributing to inflated real estate prices. However, some newcomers, including longtime Canadian snowbirds, are now looking to exit the market. Nationally, the condo sector has swung decisively in favor of buyers, showing an overrepresentation of sellers at 83.5% compared to just 141,223 buyers last month. Conversely, single-family homes reflect a seller overrepresentation of 27.8%, while townhomes present a 33% seller advantage. Despite the current tilt toward buyer preference in many markets, home prices have not significantly declined. Nonetheless, if these trends persist, especially amid steady mortgage rates, a decrease in prices may soon follow. The median home price in metro Denver, according to Redfin, has experienced a minimal decline of 0.1% over the past year, while nationally, prices recorded a 1.6% increase. While no specific forecast for Denver is available, Redfin projects national home prices will decrease by about 1% this year, advising sellers in Colorado and beyond to act swiftly to retain their remaining bargaining power. Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economic research, stated, “Inventory is piling up as buyers are pulling back due to high costs and ongoing economic uncertainty, with prices already starting to drop slightly.” The slight decline in Denver’s home prices may denote a pivotal change. Zillow, which had initially projected a 0.1% increase in home prices for Denver earlier this year, has now adjusted its forecast, anticipating a 0.9% decline by next April. However, Zillow has also highlighted sustained demand in the Denver market. Listings in March showed 6.2 engaged buyers in Denver, surpassing the national average of 5.5. Furthermore, about 32% of homes in Denver are sold above listing price, compared to 27% nationally. The average time for listings to go under contract in Denver is just 11 days, a stark contrast to the 17-day national benchmark. Additionally, the Denver Metro Association of Realtors points out that the current inventory of homes for sale in metro Denver remains below historical averages dating back to 1985. However, this gap is rapidly closing as the market continues to evolve.
image source from：https://www.denverpost.com/2025/05/31/homebuyers-market-redfin-real-estate/
