Can Buyers Still Expect a Bidding War?

If the thought of running into a bidding war has been holding you back from buying a home, there’s good news that pressure has eased.

Multiple-offer situations haven’t vanished completely, but they’re far less frequent than before. According to a recent survey, only 1 in 5 homes (20%) received multiple offers in June 2025.

That’s a sharp drop from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) a year earlier and even more dramatic compared to 39% in June 2023 (see graph below).

This shift means you’ll likely face less competition as a buyer. That gives you more breathing room to make decisions and opens the door for negotiating on price or terms.

But It Still Comes Down to Location

Of course, national trends don’t tell the full story. Local dynamics matter, a lot. This second graph uses local market from John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC) to break things down by region to prove just how true that is. It shows, while the share of homes getting multiple offers has dropped pretty much everywhere, some areas are still seeing more offers than others:

In the Northeast, about 1 in 3 homes (34%) are still drawing multiple offers — well above the national average. But in the Southeast, that figure drops to just 6%.

What explains the gap? Markets still experiencing bidding wars usually have tight inventory. With fewer homes for sale, buyers compete harder, keeping upward pressure on prices. On the flip side, regions with more listings are seeing conditions cool — and fewer bidding wars as a result.

Sellers Are More Flexible Than Before

There’s another big shift worth noting: a recent Redfin report found that nearly half of sellers are now offering concessions. That might mean helping with closing costs or lowering their asking price to get the deal done.

This marks a sharp contrast from a few years ago, when sellers held all the cards and buyers often waived inspections or appraisals just to compete. Today, the dynamic is different. Still, how much flexibility you’ll encounter depends on your local market, which is why leaning on an experienced local agent is essential.

Bottom Line

If worries about bidding wars have been keeping you on the sidelines, now may be the right moment to take another look. Nationally, competition has eased, and in some markets, it’s declined quite a bit. Add to that the growing number of sellers offering concessions, and buyers today have more leverage, options, and flexibility than they’ve seen in years.

Curious what the conditions look like in the neighborhood where you want to buy? Connect with a trusted local agent who can give you the insights and guidance you need.