Key Takeaways
- Active for-sale listings grew 12.6% annually in November to 1.07 million, with the biggest gains in Charlotte, Las Vegas, and D.C.
- The median list price dipped 2.2% from October and 0.5% year-over-year
- 18% of listings reduced their price, while time on market expanded
Promising news for home buyers
The double-edged sword of low affordability and low inventory has made house hunting harder in recent years.
While the supply of for-sale homes still lags pre-pandemic totals, a recovery’s underway. The count of active listings spiked 12.6% annually in November, according to Realtor.com.
Some of the largest inventory gains came in high-demand cities and nearly a fifth of all listings had price reductions.
Find your lowest rate. Start hereActive listings make leap in November
In a promising sign for prospective borrowers, active home listings jumped 12.6% annually in November, according to Realtor.com’s Housing Report.
A typical day during the month yielded 1.07 million for-sale listings, down from from 1.1 million in October but above 953,452 in November 2024. It marked the 25th straight month of annual growth. Though active listings overall still lag “normal” prepandemic levels, that varies regionally and at the metro level.
“Rising delistings and the growth of refuge markets capture the push and pull defining today’s housing market,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com.
“A number of sellers are retreating after listing if the market doesn’t meet their price expectations, while buyers are strategically redirecting to the metros that remain affordable. These dynamics reflect how higher rates and years of rapid price growth have rewritten the rules of engagement for both buyers and sellers. As we move into 2026, gradual improvements in affordability and more consistent inventory will be key to unlocking a more balanced market.”
Regionally, the West saw active listings grow most at a 14.3% annualized rate. Then came the South at 14.1%, Midwest at 10.3% and Northeast at 7%.
Among the 50 largest U.S. housing markets, Charlotte, N.C., led the way with a 34.7% year-over-year gain in active listing count. Jumps of 33% in Las Vegas, 32% in Washington, D.C., 30.2% in Raleigh, N.C., and 28.4% in Seattle rounded out the top five.
Time to make a move? Let us find the right mortgage for youThe table below shows the metro areas with the 25 largest annual rises in listing count in November:
| Metro | Active Listing Count YoY | Median List Price | Median List Price, YoY | Median Days on Market, YoY (Days) | Price Reduced Share | Price-Reduced Share, YoY (% Points) |
| Charlotte, NC | 34.7% | $429,740 | 0.2% | 7 | 22.7% | 3.6 |
| Las Vegas | 33.0% | $469,997 | 0.0% | 9 | 21.3% | 3.9 |
| Washington, DC | 32.0% | $575,000 | -2.4% | 5 | 17.4% | 3.8 |
| Raleigh, NC | 30.2% | $445,000 | -1.1% | 8 | 22.0% | 4.5 |
| Seattle | 28.4% | $749,950 | 1.3% | 5 | 18.8% | 4.5 |
| Indianapolis | 24.2% | $315,000 | -0.3% | 2 | 28.7% | 2 |
| Louisville, KY | 23.6% | $309,900 | 0.0% | -1 | 21.2% | 0.2 |
| Baltimore | 22.8% | $375,000 | 4.2% | 4 | 19.3% | 2.5 |
| Boston | 21.8% | $785,000 | -4.3% | 2 | 18.7% | 3.6 |
| Detroit | 21.7% | $255,000 | -1.9% | 0 | 19.5% | 4.2 |
| Houston | 21.5% | $354,999 | -2.7% | 4 | 18.9% | 1.6 |
| Columbus, OH | 21.1% | $359,900 | 0.0% | 3 | 27.4% | 4.8 |
| Phoenix | 18.1% | $489,000 | -5.0% | 7 | 28.1% | 2.1 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 17.8% | $335,000 | 4.7% | 0 | 20.3% | 2.9 |
| San Jose, CA | 16.8% | $1,299,900 | -3.7% | 4 | 12.2% | 3.3 |
| Richmond, VA | 16.4% | $426,000 | -0.9% | 3 | 16.7% | 1.9 |
| Kansas City, MO | 15.9% | $375,000 | 0.6% | 0 | 18.5% | 1.9 |
| Tucson, AZ | 15.4% | $383,640 | -1.6% | 1 | 22.1% | 4.1 |
| San Antonio | 15.2% | $324,900 | -1.5% | 0 | 24.6% | 1.8 |
| Tampa, FL | 14.8% | $400,000 | 0.0% | 4 | 24.2% | -0.2 |
| Denver | 14.6% | $579,000 | -2.5% | 6 | 25.6% | 2 |
| Los Angeles | 13.3% | $1,085,000 | -4.0% | 5 | 12.9% | 0.7 |
| Atlanta | 13.0% | $410,000 | 1.1% | 2 | 21.4% | 0.7 |
| Portland, OR | 12.7% | $589,000 | -1.8% | 7 | 25.0% | -1.7 |
| San Diego | 12.5% | $915,000 | -5.7% | 2 | 17.1% | 0.2 |
At the other end of the spectrum, Chicago gained the least for-sale inventory, decreasing 1.5% from November 2024. San Francisco and Jacksonville, Fla., also declined, falling 0.9% and 0.8% annually. Above those, Milwaukee grew 0.6%, and Grand Rapids, Mich., by 3.2%.
The table below shows the full bottom 25:
| Metro | Active Listing Count YoY | Median List Price | Median List Price, YoY | Median Days on Market, YoY (Days) | Price Reduced Share | Price-Reduced Share, YoY (% Points) |
| Chicago | -1.5% | $355,900 | -1.1% | 0 | 16.0% | 1.4 |
| San Francisco | -0.9% | $915,000 | -5.6% | -1 | 14.1% | 1 |
| Jacksonville, FL | -0.8% | $389,000 | -1.3% | 6 | 23.8% | 0.5 |
| Milwaukee | 0.6% | $379,000 | 3.8% | 1 | 17.1% | -0.4 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 3.2% | $389,900 | 4.0% | -2 | 19.7% | 0.3 |
| New York | 4.0% | $750,000 | -2.3% | 1 | 8.6% | 0.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 5.4% | $245,000 | 4.3% | 0 | 19.2% | 1.2 |
| Minneapolis | 6.0% | $410,000 | -2.4% | -1 | 16.8% | 0.4 |
| Philadelphia | 6.3% | $370,000 | -0.7% | 0 | 16.8% | 1.7 |
| Cleveland | 6.6% | $250,000 | 0.0% | 1 | 17.6% | 0.2 |
| Orlando, FL | 7.0% | $419,900 | -1.2% | 7 | 21.5% | 0.9 |
| Sacramento, CA | 7.4% | $615,000 | 0.0% | 8 | 17.3% | 0.3 |
| Riverside, CA | 7.7% | $595,000 | -0.7% | 4 | 15.6% | 1 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 7.7% | $400,000 | 2.6% | 1 | 20.2% | 2.8 |
| Miami | 8.0% | $500,000 | -4.8% | 10 | 15.4% | -1.3 |
| Austin, TX | 8.1% | $479,000 | -4.2% | 4 | 24.9% | 1.6 |
| Hartford, CT | 8.2% | $429,000 | 5.6% | -2 | 10.6% | 1 |
| Memphis, TN | 9.9% | $319,000 | -4.4% | 5 | 23.2% | 2.3 |
| Providence, RI | 10.8% | $550,000 | 1.9% | -1 | 13.2% | -3.8 |
| Buffalo, NY | 10.9% | $259,900 | 4.0% | 4 | 10.0% | 0.6 |
| St. Louis | 11.0% | $291,900 | 0.7% | -2 | 18.0% | 2.4 |
| Birmingham, AL | 11.2% | $298,500 | 1.2% | 4 | 16.5% | 0.8 |
| Oklahoma City | 11.5% | $315,995 | 1.9% | -3 | 21.5% | 3.2 |
| Dallas | 11.8% | $420,000 | -1.9% | 6 | 24.4% | 1.1 |
| Nashville, TN | 12.0% | $531,664 | -1.5% | -1 | 19.0% | 2.7 |
Additionally, the median time listings spent on the market ticked up to 64 days, up from 63 days in October and 62 days the year prior. The share of listings with price reductions hit 18%, down monthly from 20.2% and up annually from 16.7%.
The median listing price went to $415,000 in November, down 2.2% from $424,200 in October and 0.5% from $416,880 in November 2024. It also marks a 34.3% growth rate from $309,000 in November 2019.
The bottom line for home buyers
With affordability sidelining many would-be home buyers, more for-sale options could help lower prices for house hunters in 2026.
If you’re searching to purchase a home, take some good expert advice and get your ducks in a row. Plus, you could save big money by learning strategies for mortgage rate negotiation and seeing what down payment and closing cost assistance you may qualify for.
Reach out to a local mortgage professional if you’re ready to begin your path to homeownership.
