If you are thinking about buying a home in the near future, it may be smart to get your finances in order now, because a recent report from Realtor.com points to a very specific stretch of days when conditions should tilt more in favor of buyers. The week of October twelve through eighteen is expected to offer a rare mix of higher inventory, slightly lower prices, and less competition, creating a window of opportunity that has been difficult to find in recent years.
Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale explains that the 2025 housing market is finally giving buyers something they have not had in quite some time, real options instead of the limited choices and intense pressure that have defined much of the past decade. She expects the current shift in momentum to amplify the usual seasonal trends that already tend to benefit buyers in the fall. During that mid October week, data from Realtor.com suggest that shoppers will see more homes for sale, face less competition from other buyers, and potentially save more than fifteen thousand dollars on average compared with the peak prices seen over the summer, based on a median priced home of 439,450 dollars.
This opportunity is not just about the possibility of paying less, it is also about having more properties to choose from. Realtor.com projects that active listings will be up by about 32.6 percent compared with the beginning of the year, pushing inventory to its highest point since before the pandemic. Because listings often peak in early fall, buyers can use this period to weigh different neighborhoods, house styles, and price points more carefully instead of feeling forced into rushed decisions.
Competition tends to ease as well once the summer rush has passed. The report estimates that buyer activity during this October week is usually 30.6 percent lower than during the peak season. Many families still prefer to move when children are out of school and settled before the new academic year begins, so the most intense housing activity often happens in spring and summer. By mid October, there are fewer active bidders chasing each home, which reduces the likelihood of escalating bidding wars and makes it easier for buyers to stick to their budgets.
Another advantage for buyers at this time of year is that homes generally stay on the market longer. In October, properties typically remain listed for about two weeks more than they do during peak season. That extra time can shift some leverage toward buyers, since sellers who have watched their homes sit may become more flexible. Realtor.com notes that around 5.5 percent of listings see price reductions during this period, which can open the door to better deals and more room to negotiate on terms such as closing costs, repairs, or move in dates.
The exact best week to buy can still vary by location, so buyers need to pay attention to local patterns as well as national trends. Large metro areas such as Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington District of Columbia tend to follow the October twelve through eighteen timing. Other major markets, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas, often see buyer friendly conditions arrive a few weeks earlier, frequently in September. In Florida markets such as Miami and Tampa, the most favorable period for buyers may not arrive until as late as December, reflecting different seasonal demand and regional dynamics that Realtor.com tracks in its analysis.
Even with these advantages, Hale cautions that the market has not fully shifted into a classic buyers market. Instead, conditions are more balanced than they have been in years, after a long stretch of historically tight supply and intense competition that priced many households out. For buyers who are prepared with their financing, have a clear budget, and know what they want, recognizing this mid October window and planning around the timing in their own area could make the difference between missing out and finally securing a home that fits their needs and their long term plans.
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