Despite heightened homebuying demand, the number of stale home listings increased in December
Jan. 20, 2025
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Active home listings went stale in December as sellers overestimated their home values.
Although homebuying demand has improved recently, data from housing market platform Realtor.com show a significant increase in the number of stale home listings on the market. In December 2024, half of all active listings sat on the market for 70 days or longer. This is an increase from the same time last year when homes were on the market for a median of 61 days before selling. Additionally, the number of homes that have sat on the market for 180 days or more has increased by 24.3% month-over-month.
“Overpricing is the main culprit for listings becoming stale. Many sellers have expectations about their home value that stem from the buying craze of 2021–22 when listing prices shot up across the country,” says Realtor.com® senior economist Joel Berner.
“Sellers can see what their neighbors got for their homes during that period and are reluctant to list for less, leading to their homes sitting on the market for longer and eventually needing to receive price reductions to finally sell,” he adds. Read more
