Nine Cities Poised For Buyer's Market Conditions This Summer

Nine metro areas are projected to transition into buyer's markets by the end of the summer, joining 19 existing buyer-friendly markets. These cities include Atlanta, Bakersfield, CA; Birmingham, AL; Honolulu; Houston; Memphis, TN; Riverside, CA; San Antonio; and Syracuse, NY. This forecast is based on Realtor.com's 2026 Q2 Market Clock report, released on Tuesday, which analyzes housing market conditions across 100 of the nation's largest metropolitan areas.

The Market Clock report evaluates housing conditions using metrics such as months of supply, time on market, price changes, and the list-to-sale ratio. The report places each market on a 12-hour clock, with 12 o'clock representing a peak seller's market and 6 o'clock a peak buyer's market. The national market clock is currently positioned at 3 o'clock, indicating a balanced market.

Realtor.com senior economist Jake Krimmel noted that the national average conceals significant local variations. Currently, 70% of the tracked housing markets favor buyers or are trending in that direction, a notable increase from approximately 50% last year. This shift signifies a growing advantage for homebuyers across a substantial portion of the country.