More U.S. real estate agents are reporting a balanced housing market as buyers regain negotiating power after years of seller dominance, according to CNBC’s second-quarter Housing Market Survey released Tuesday.
The survey found that 44% of agents now see a balanced market between buyers and sellers, up from 30% in the third quarter of 2025.
The national survey gathered responses from 53 real estate agents across the U.S. between June 23 and June 30.
A balanced housing market generally means buyers and sellers have relatively equal negotiating power, unlike the seller-driven conditions that defined much of the post-pandemic housing boom.
Sellers Become More Flexible
