Three Southern Cities Shift From Buyer's Markets to Balanced

The national housing market is gradually shifting towards conditions more favorable to buyers this summer, but three Southern metropolitan areas are exhibiting a contrary trend. Augusta, Georgia; Greenville, South Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida, which were previously categorized as buyer's markets in Realtor.com's Q2 2026 Market Clock report, have now transitioned into balanced market territory as of an August data release. This shift indicates a slight tightening in these specific markets, moving them counterclockwise on the Market Clock and making them marginally less advantageous for buyers than before. Realtor.com senior economist Jake Krimmel explained this movement, noting the change in market dynamics.

The Market Clock diagnostic tool, first introduced in April, analyzes market conditions across 100 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It utilizes key performance indicators such as months of housing supply, the average time properties spend on the market, price fluctuations, and the ratio of list price to sale price. These 100 metros are visually represented on a 12-hour clock face, with a peak seller's market positioned at 12 o'clock and a peak buyer's market at 6 o'clock. The tool indicates the current standing of each market and its projected trajectory, whether it is loosening or tightening. The clock and its accompanying quarterly reports provide consumers with a clear overview of their local housing market's performance in comparison to broader regional and national trends.

Nationally, the Market Clock remains at the 3 o'clock position, signifying a balanced market environment where both buyers and sellers operate on a relatively equal footing. However, a deeper examination of the regional data reveals considerable fragmentation within the market. According to the most recent Market Clock data, 16 out of the 100 tracked metros are currently classified as buyer's markets, a decrease from the 19 recorded in April. This reduction is directly attributed to the migration of Augusta, Greenville, and Jacksonville into balanced territory. Concurrently, the number of true seller's markets saw an increase, rising from 25 to 26, while the count of balanced markets expanded from 55 to 57. Krimmel further commented on the broader market direction, stating that the general movement is still towards rebalancing from the strong seller positions observed a few years ago to a more buyer-friendly environment. This suggests that while specific Southern cities are experiencing a tightening, the overarching trend in the housing market continues to favor buyers.