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U.S. Inventory Surpasses 1 Million Homes for the First Time Since Winter of 2019
News News (US:NWS) Prnewswireยท2025-06-05 10:00

Core Insights - The U.S. housing market is experiencing a recovery that is unevenly distributed across different regions, with the South and West showing significant rebounds while the Northeast and Midwest lag behind [1][2][3] Market Overview - The number of homes for sale in the U.S. exceeded 1 million for the first time since Winter 2019, indicating a growing inventory [1][5] - The median listing price in May 2025 was $440,000, reflecting a 2.0% increase from April 2025 and a 37.5% increase from May 2019 [2][5] - Active listings reached 1,036,101, an 8.0% increase month-over-month and a 31.5% increase year-over-year [2][5] Regional Performance - All 50 largest U.S. metros reported annual inventory gains in May 2025, but only 22 have returned to pre-pandemic inventory levels, all located in the South or West [3][7] - Cities like Denver, Austin, and Seattle have seen substantial inventory increases due to a post-2020 construction boom, with Denver showing a 100.0% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels [3][10] - Conversely, metros such as Hartford, Chicago, and Virginia Beach have seen significant declines in inventory, with Hartford down 77.7% [3][10] Buyer Dynamics - Increased inventory has provided buyers with more options, but affordability remains a significant barrier, with homes taking a median of 51 days to sell, which is six days longer than the previous year [5][6] - In May 2025, 19.1% of listings had price reductions, the highest share for any May since at least 2016, with notable reductions in markets like Phoenix and Tampa [6][11] Construction Trends - The analysis indicates a strong correlation between pandemic-era construction activity and current inventory levels, with markets that built more homes recovering faster [7][8] - A nationwide shortfall of nearly 4 million homes persists, particularly affecting supply-constrained regions in the Northeast and Midwest [8]