Worried About Bidding Wars? Here’s What’s Really Happening in Today’s Market
If the thought of a bidding war has been holding you back from buying a home, there’s some good news, you may be able to relax a bit.
While multiple-offer situations haven’t disappeared entirely, they’re far less common than in recent years. A recent survey shows that only 1 in 5 homes (20%) nationally received multiple offers in June 2025. That’s down from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) a year ago, and significantly lower than June 2023 (39%).
This shift means buyers can face less competition, giving you more time to make decisions and greater room to negotiate price or terms.
Location Still Matters
National trends only tell part of the story. Local markets can behave very differently. Data from John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC) and Keeping Current Matters (KCM) highlights that while multiple-offer situations have dropped almost everywhere, some regions still see more competition than others.
For example, in the Northeast, roughly 1 in 3 homes (34%) are still getting multiple offers, higher than the national average. Meanwhile, in the Southeast, only 6% of homes are seeing that level of interest.
Why the difference? Areas with tighter inventory continue to create competition, while markets with more listings are cooling off, fewer buyers chasing more homes means fewer bidding wars.
Sellers Are More Flexible Than You Might Think
Another important change: sellers are showing more willingness to negotiate. According to a Redfin report, nearly half of sellers are offering concessions, like helping with closing costs or lowering their asking price.
This is a stark contrast to previous years when sellers rarely budged, and buyers often had to waive inspections or appraisals to make their offer stand out. Today, buyers have more leverage and flexibility, but exactly how much depends on your local market. That’s where working with a knowledgeable local agent is key.
Bottom Line
If fear of a bidding war has been holding you back, it may be time to take another look. Nationally, competition is down, and in some markets, it’s dropped significantly. With more sellers willing to negotiate, today’s buyers have opportunities they haven’t had in years.
Curious about the market where you’re buying? Let’s connect and take a closer look.
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