U.S. Housing stalls as ‘can’t sell house’ searches climb

What to Know:

• Record-high ‘can’t sell house’ claims unverified; replicate before citing.
• Trends shows normalized index; peaks reflect relative highs, not absolute volumes.

Claims that Google searches for “can’t sell house” hit an all-time high remain unverified. Search interest can rise on social chatter alone, so treat the headline cautiously until you replicate the data.

To validate, use Google Trends: enter the exact phrase with quotation marks, set region and time horizon to “Worldwide” and “2004–present,” and compare with alternative phrasings. Remember, Trends shows a normalized index (0–100), not absolute volumes, and peaks can reflect relative highs rather than raw-record counts.

Why sellers feel stuck: buyer power and mortgage rate lock-in

At the time of this writing, based on Redfin, the median U.S. sale price rose 1.1% year over year in January to $422,921, while a pronounced buyer’s market kept gains muted alongside the lowest pending home sales since 2023 and the biggest drop in existing-home sales since 2022. In markets where inventory exceeds active demand, negotiating leverage typically shifts to buyers, restraining list-to-sale price ratios and elongating marketing timelines.

Mortgage rate lock-in is a key drag. Owners who financed at very low pandemic-era rates face significantly higher monthly payments if they sell and buy again, which discourages moves and can reduce new listings, even as active inventory accumulates in some segments.

That dynamic has been summarized by housing economists as a rebalancing after rapid appreciation. “Home prices grew so fast for so long that a lot of buyers got shut out of the market, which is now causing price growth to cool,” said Asad Khan, Senior Economist. “With far more homes for sale than people who want to buy them, the buyers who are in the market have the power to negotiate on price, which is keeping price growth in check.”

Policy also shapes behavior. The National Association of Realtors has highlighted that outdated capital-gains exclusion thresholds may be discouraging potential sellers at the margin, a factor to watch as policymakers debate changes.

Seller playbook: pricing, timing, or delisting in today’s market

Pricing to the market is paramount when buyers hold leverage. Use recent comparable sales and current competing listings, and monitor days on market and showing feedback to calibrate whether list price is preventing offers.

Timing decisions often hinge on momentum. Some owners who do not achieve target prices choose to pause and relist when conditions improve; according to Realtor.com, delistings rose roughly 45.5% year over year in October 2025, signaling reluctance to chase the market down.

Delisting can conserve optionality if carrying costs are manageable, but it does not resolve affordability gaps. If selling into a new purchase, consider how mortgage rate lock-in and transaction taxes interact with your household budget and risk tolerance.