In July, the number of U.S. homebuyers hit a new low at 966,752, according to Redfin. Meanwhile, nearly 1.46 million sellers were in the market. That means sellers outnumbered buyers by nearly half a million people. Which means buyers still in the market are facing less competition for available homes, creating real negotiating power with motivated sellers. 
 
In fact, nearly 80% of the largest U.S. metros (39 out of 49) are buyer’s markets. 
 
But real estate is local, and not every seller will be willing to make a deal. So how can you tell when you may have leverage on a particular home? National trends provide context, but the clearest clues are often hiding inside the listing itself. Here are seven signs that a seller may be ready to negotiate, and how you can use that opportunity.

 
Potential Sign #1: The Home Has Been on the Market Longer Than Similar Properties
The longer a home sits on the market, the more motivated a seller may become. Aa ...

In the first half of 2026, buyers saved about 27% on foreclosed homes listed for sale. This is on a national scale. And as of April, foreclosure listings made up 1.3% of total for-sale listings, the highest level in six years. 
New data from Realtor.com also shows foreclosed property listings, also called REO listings, are getting 26.5% more page views compared to typical home listings.
Yet they still sit 11 days longer, partly because foreclosure has a scary reputation for a lot of homebuyers. But that’s not the only reason. While these properties could be hidden opportunities, they’re not without risk. 
Here’s what’s driving the rise in foreclosures and the trade-offs that go with buying an REO property vs a seller-owned or newly-built home. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll know what to expect in Fernandina Beach and whether these homes are worth looking into. 
Why Foreclosures Are Ticking Up Again

Forecl ...