Nearly 80,000 “Pulled” Listings May Be Coming Back—Here’s What That Means for Sellers

The Reddingtons
4 days ago
2 min read

We’re seeing a familiar pattern return: homeowners who tried to sell, didn’t get the outcome they wanted, and chose to pause rather than price-cut. Now many of those listings are re-entering the market—often with the same sellers still needing to buy their next home.

Depending on the data source and time window, we’ve seen delistings in the tens of thousands in a single month, which underscores just how much “paused” inventory can build up.

So what does that mean for you if you’re thinking about selling?

More Movement Is Coming—But Only the Best-Positioned Homes Win

When sidelined sellers come back, it doesn’t just add listings—it adds motivation. A large share of these homeowners aren’t casually testing the market. They’re life-driven movers: relocation, downsizing, growing families, school changes, aging parents, or “we’ve waited long enough.”

And many of them are also buyers, which creates a second layer of momentum: one sale triggers another purchase, and the chain continues.

At the same time, contract activity has been regionally mixed—with year-over-year improvements showing up in some areas more than others—so the advantage goes to sellers who prepare and position well instead of “hoping the market does the work.”

Rising Inventory Creates Opportunity—and Competition

Inventory has been climbing at a measured pace in many markets, and that’s healthy. More choice brings more shoppers back into the conversation. But it also means you’re not competing against “nothing”—you’re competing against other homes that will also look fresh and newly available.

In practical terms: the market is rewarding precision.

What “Priced and Positioned Correctly” Actually Means

Priced correctly

Anchored to today’s comps (not last spring’s headlines)
Adjusted for your home’s condition, location nuances, and buyer friction points
Designed to create urgency—because urgency is what protects your net

Positioned correctly

Presentation that reads “move-in ready” in photos and first showing impressions
Clear value narrative (updates, layout advantages, lifestyle benefits)
A launch plan that creates maximum visibility in the first 7–10 days

If You’re Selling in 2026, Planning Early Is a Power Move

If spring is your target, the best time to plan isn’t “when the flowers show up.” It’s before the market fully ramps—while you still control timelines, vendors, prep work, and pricing strategy.

Here’s what we recommend doing now:

Pre-list walkthrough: identify high-ROI fixes (and skip the money pits)
Staging/visual strategy: decide what you’ll improve vs. what you’ll style around
Pricing framework: define your pricing range and the strategy behind it
Next-home strategy (if you’re also buying): align contingencies, timing, and financing

Because when those “pulled” listings come back, the homes that stand out aren’t the ones that are merely available—they’re the ones that feel unmissable.

Our Takeaway

Yes—more homes coming back creates more overall activity. But it also raises the bar. If you’re thinking about selling this year, let’s map out a smart, calm plan now—so you’re not reacting later when competition is louder.