Bidding Wars Are Less Common—Here’s What That Means for Buyers

If you’ve been hesitating to purchase a home because you’re worried about a bidding war, it’s time to relax a little. Multiple-offers and escalating prices haven’t disappeared completely, but they’re much less common than they used to be.

Recent data shows that nationally, only 1 in 5 homes (20%) received multiple offers in June 2025. That’s down from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) just a year ago, and well below June 2023 levels (39%).

Less Competition = More Leverage for BuyersWith fewer multiple-offer situations, buyers now have a little more time to make a decision and in some cases more room to negotiate price or terms. That’s a dramatic shift from the ultra-competitive market we experienced just a short time ago.

Local Market Conditions Still MatterNational trends don’t always tell the full story. Some areas are still seeing more competition than others.

According to survey data from John Burns Research & Consulting and Keeping Current Matters:

• In the Northeast, about 1 in 3 homes (34%) are still getting multiple offers—higher than the national average.

• In the Southeast, only 6% of homes are seeing the same competition.

Why the difference? It comes down to listing inventory. Areas with fewer homes for sale still create pressure on prices and drive competition, while markets with more listings are cooling—meaning fewer bidding wars.

Sellers Are More FlexibleAnother encouraging trend: almost half of sellers are offering concessions, like covering closing costs, reducing their asking price to make a sale happen and even making repairs. That’s a major change from the hyper-competitive markets we saw a few years ago, when buyers often waived inspections or appraisals to compete.

Of course, exactly how common concessions are will vary depending on your local market. That’s why having a local agent helping you is so important—they know the trends in your area and can help you determine what may work best for you.

Bottom LineIf bidding wars or multiple offers have been causing you to pause, now may be the right time to take another look. Competition is down nationally, some markets are seeing it drop significantly, and sellers are more willing to negotiate than they have been in recent years.

Want to know what the market looks like where you’re buying? Let’s connect—I can give you a local perspective and help you find the right strategy to win, resulting in the home you want.