Are Bidding Wars Still a Thing?

If you’re still worried about having to deal with a bidding war when you buy a home, you may be able to let some of that fear go.

While multiple-offer situations haven’t disappeared entirely, they’re not nearly as common as they used to be. In fact, a recent survey shows agents reported only 1 in 5 homes (20%) nationally received multiple offers in June 2025. That’s down from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) just a year ago – and dramatically lower than in June 2023 (39%). This trend means you should face less competition when you buy. That gives you more time to make decisions and the ability to negotiate price or terms.

It Still Depends on Where You’re Buying

Of course, national trends don’t tell the full story. Local dynamics matter, a lot. While the share of homes getting multiple offers has dropped pretty much everywhere, some areas across the nation are still seeing more offers than others.

In the Northeast, 34% of homes (roughly 1 in 3) are still receiving multiple offers. That’s more than the national average. But in Southeast, that number drops to just 6%.

What’s behind the difference? In general, the areas still seeing bidding wars tend to have lower-than-normal inventory. That imbalance between buyers and available homes keeps pressure on prices and competition. But markets with more listings, similar to our local market, are seeing conditions cool – and that means fewer bidding wars. 

Builders Have Actually Underbuilt for Over a Decade

After the 2008 crash, builders slammed on the brakes. For 15 years, they didn’t build enough homes to keep up with demand. That long stretch of underbuilding created a major housing shortage, which we’re still dealing with today. We’re only recently starting to slowly climb out of that hole. But there’s still a long way to go (even with the growth we’ve seen lately). Experts at Realtor.com say it would take roughly 7.5 years to build enough homes to close the gap so don't be alarmed by all the new homes being built.

Sellers Are More Flexible Than You Might Think

Here’s another shift to show you just how much things have changed. According to a Redfin report, almost half of sellers are offering concessions, like covering their buyer’s closing costs or dropping their asking price to get their house sold.

That’s a clear sign this isn’t the same ultra-competitive market we saw a few years ago. Back then, sellers rarely compromised. And buyers often waived their inspection or appraisal to try to make their offer stand out. Now, things are different.

Bottom Line

If concerns about bidding wars have been holding you back, it's time to take another look. Nationally, competition is down. In some markets, it’s down significantly. And with more sellers offering concessions, buyers today have more power and flexibility than they’ve had in a long time.

Contact Arrive Real Estate Group today to learn more about our local market and how you can take advantage of this shift.