Core Insights - The U.S. housing market is experiencing a significant recovery in active inventory, with 22 of the 50 largest metros showing more listings than pre-pandemic levels, led by Denver, Austin, and Seattle [1][2] Inventory Growth - Denver has seen a 100% increase in available homes compared to pre-pandemic averages, followed by Austin at 69% and Seattle at 60.9% [1][4] - Other notable metros include Dallas-Fort Worth (+55.5%), San Antonio (+58.3%), and San Francisco (+53.5%) [4] Market Dynamics - The increase in inventory is attributed to a combination of affordability concerns slowing buyer demand and a rise in new housing construction over the past six years [2][5] - Longer selling times in many Western and Southern metros are contributing to the accumulation of active inventory, indicating a cooling demand [6] Buyer Market Conditions - Although the U.S. housing market is not officially in a buyer's market, conditions are shifting favorably for buyers, with more options and increased willingness from sellers to negotiate [7] - The current supply stands at 4.6 months, still below the 6-month threshold typically defining a buyer's market, but the landscape is evolving towards a more balanced market [7] Regional Variations - The recovery in inventory is not uniform across all metros, with some markets normalizing rapidly while others remain constrained by low supply [2][5] - The nationwide shortage of nearly 4 million homes continues to impact local market conditions, making regional trends critical for buyers and sellers [7]