ABA Family Legal Guide

Buying and Selling a Home

Introduction to Buying and Selling a Home

What is a buyer's market?

A buyer's market occurs when home sales are slow. Here are some of the factors that might indicate that the home sales market in your area is a buyer's market:

• It is taking longer and longer to sell homes.
• Foreclosures are increasing.
• There are large reductions in home prices.
• Unemployment is increasing.
• Numerous "for sale" signs are displayed.

These factors indicate a soft market for home sales. A soft market tends to make sellers anxious and puts buyers in a stronger position than sellers. In a buyer's market, buyers have many homes to choose from and can demand special considerations from sellers.