More signs on a shifting housing market?

If I were on a global mobility team, here are the top three takeaways from this recent Fast Company article "Housing market shift: This map shows where home sellers are cutting prices the most"—paired with broader real estate trends—and how they could impact relocating employees:

1. Buyers Are Gaining Leverage; Sellers Are Relisting Strategically

• Nationally, 25.6% of homes for sale saw a price cut in June 2025, up from just 11.4% in June 2021. 
• Meanwhile, delistings surged by 47% year-over-year—indicating sellers are increasingly withdrawing listings rather than reducing prices, often hoping to re-enter the market under better conditions. 
• Home sales are at their slowest summer pace in a decade per Redfin as high borrowing costs stifle housing demand.
• This signals a shift in market power toward buyers, creating more opportunities—but also more volatility.
• One of the biggest factors keeping buyers out of the market at the moment is high mortgage rates but there are signs that a change in rates to support buyers is coming.

Implication for Mobility Teams
Relocating employees might find themselves with stronger negotiation power in the new market—but their home equity may be less liquid if delistings delay sales. Planning should account for longer listing periods and potentially multiple attempts to sell. Consider more flexible timing, interim housing, home sale programs or even bridge loans as contingency measures.

2. Regional Variation Matters: South & West Softening vs. Northeast and Midwest Holding

• Markets in the South and West, especially metros like Phoenix, Austin, and Denver, are seeing the highest rates of price cuts (over 30%) and delistings. 
• In contrast, markets in parts of the Northeast and Midwest remain comparatively resilient, with fewer price adjustments.  

Here are the 10 major metros where homes lingered the longest in July according to Redfin:

1. West Palm Beach, FL: 95 days
2. Fort Lauderdale, FL: 92 days
3. Miami, FL: 86 days
4. Jacksonville, FL: 75 days
5. Austin, TX: 68 days
6. Phoenix, AZ: 67 days
7. San Antonio, TX: 66 days
8. Nashville, TN: 60 days
9. Las Vegas, NV: 55 days
10. Charlotte, NC: 55 days

Implication for Mobility Teams
A one-size-fits-all relocation policy won't cut it. If employees are relocating to or from high-cut markets like Phoenix or Austin, expect softening conditions, longer time to sell, and potential downward pricing pressure. Meanwhile, moves involving robust markets—e.g., some Northeast metros—may see quicker turnarounds and firm equity values. Tailoring support and timelines by region is crucial.

3. Rising Inventory and Stalled Sales Create a Buyer-Friendly—but Uncertain—Market Landscape

Active listings surpassed one million, hitting a post-pandemic high, with inventory up nearly 29% year-over-year. Homes are also staying on the market longer (median of 53 days, 5 days longer than last year). Builders are offering incentives to attract buyers, further signaling a cooling market.

Implication for Mobility Teams
A glut of inventory gives relocating employees more options—but slower sales cycles and price negotiation means greater uncertainty. Mobility professionals may need to:

• Offer rental assistance or extended housing allowances and temporary housing if sales drag.
• Advise employees on dynamic pricing strategies—e.g., staged price cuts or timed relisting rather than immediate undercutting.
• Monitor builder incentives in the destination region that may affect rental or relocation housing costs.

Final Thoughts

The housing market is clearly shifting from seller dominance to buyer opportunity, but it's not uniform across the country. Global mobility teams need to:

• Consider modeling market conditions regionally, not nationally.
• Build flexibility into policy—longer home sale timelines, possible interim housing, bridge financing.
• Proactively communicate market realities so employees can make informed decisions.
• Use data-driven insights (e.g., ResiClub, Realtor.com, Freddie Mac, NAHB data) to anticipate timing and equity shifts.

As the article—and supporting sources—highlight, this isn't just a short-term blip but a meaningful market rebalancing that deserves strategic planning. For further reading on current housing market trends:

Delistings jump nearly 50% as sellers fail to find buyers for their homes

US homebuilder sentiment dips back to lowest level since late 2022

Home prices hit an all-time high, but some regions are seeing price declines