Should You Still Expect a Bidding War?

If the idea of getting caught in a bidding war has been keeping you from house hunting, you can probably breathe a little easier. Multiple-offer situations haven’t vanished, but they’re far less common than they were during the peak frenzy.

A recent survey found that only 1 in 5 homes (20%) nationwide received multiple offers in June 2025. That’s a drop from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) a year earlier — and considerably lower than June 2023 (39%).

What that means for buyers: there’s generally less competition now. You’ll often have more time to weigh your options and greater room to negotiate price or contract terms.

It still depends on where you’re buying

National averages don’t tell the whole story — local market conditions matter a great deal. Using data from John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC) and Keeping Current Matters (KCM), the next chart breaks the trend down by region.

While multiple-offer rates have fallen almost everywhere, some regions still experience more competition than others.

For example, the Northeast still sees about 34% of homes (roughly 1 in 3) getting multiple offers — well above the national average. In contrast, the Southeast is seeing that figure drop to just 6%.

Why the difference? Areas with persistent bidding wars typically have tighter-than-normal inventory. Fewer homes for sale relative to buyers keeps pressure on prices and competition. Markets with healthier listings counts are cooling, and that translates into fewer bidding contests.

Sellers are more flexible than you might think

Another sign the market has shifted: sellers are increasingly willing to make concessions. A Redfin report shows that nearly half of sellers are offering concessions such as paying some closing costs or lowering their asking price to move the house.

That’s a marked change from the ultra-competitive market of a few years ago, when sellers rarely budged and buyers often waived inspections or appraisals to stand out. Today’s buyers have more leverage — but how much depends on the local market, so a knowledgeable local agent is still essential.

Bottom Line

If fear of bidding wars has kept you on the sidelines, now might be a good time to revisit your plans. Nationally, competition is down — in many markets, significantly so — and more sellers are open to concessions.

With the right local guidance, buyers today often have more negotiating power and flexibility than they’ve seen in years.