THE 'DELISTING' RATE FOR HOMES IS STUNNING (AT 45% FOR 2025)....WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

What the 45% Delisting Rate Teaches Us (2025 Market)

When nearly half of all listings are being pulled off the market, it signals one thing loud and clear:

Buyers aren’t rejecting homes — they’re rejecting homes that aren’t compelling.

A 45% delisting rate in the nation means:

1. The market is telling us that “just listed” isn’t enough anymore.

High inventory, more competition, and slower demand mean buyers get to compare, analyze, and wait. If a home doesn’t stand out in the first 7–14 days, it quickly becomes “stale.”

2. Pricing strategy matters more than ever.

Overpricing is the #1 cause of delisting.
Buyers are more highly educated (thanks to than in the past and analyze value before they ever schedule a showing. If the price doesn't match the condition, they simply move on.  Besides, there are so many other choices on the market (San Antonio right now has 53% higher inventory than was on the market in 2019!!!) that an overpriced home is simply passed over. Rarely, is the strategy of overpricing to see what is offered working. Historically, a majority of buyers refuse to 'lowball' and therefore the overpriced home is taken out of consideration.

3. Presentation is now a competitive sport.

With so many options, buyers are gravitating toward:

• Move-in ready condition

• Updated interiors

• Crisp, magazine-quality listing photos

• Homes that feel clean, bright, and well-prepared/well-maintained

Homes that skip preparation often get skipped by buyers.  

4. Days on market are a feedback loop — and sellers who ignore it lose.

When a home sits:

• Buyers assume “something is wrong”

• Buyers may be 'watching' the home and waiting for a price adjustment which indicates negotiability but they can forget about that home if it takes too long for the price to be adjusted.

• Seller frustration grows

• Eventually, the home is delisted or repositioned

The market is offering feedback — immediate and unforgiving.

5. The biggest lesson: Sellers must treat the sale like a competitive product launch.

Because that’s exactly what it is.

Proper prep, strategic pricing, and strong marketing are no longer optional — they’re the difference between selling and delisting.  Read our Tale of Four Sellers to find out how to sell in this challenging market.