Don’t Be Fooled by Headlines!

by Albert Chen

Redfin’s recent headline

“The Typical Home Seller Wants $39K More Than the Typical Buyer Is Willing to Pay” might make it sound like buyers and sellers are worlds apart—but let’s break it down

Redfin's data is from March 2025, showing that list prices were about 9% higher than actual sold prices—a $38,672 gap. But there’s more to the story...

Let’s add some real context:

This data doesn’t compare the list price and sold price of the same home. Instead, it compares median list prices vs. median sold prices—which isn’t apples to apples.

The median sold price means half the homes sold for more and half for less. If more lower-priced homes are selling right now (which they are), it skews that median down

. That doesn’t mean your home has lost value—it just means the mix of homes selling has shifted.

Buyers and sellers are always on different pages—unless it’s a strong seller’s market.

Why? Because it’s human nature to want a deal.

Buyers only offer over asking when demand is so high that homes are flying off the market (remember the multiple-offer madness a few years ago?

Today, that only happens when a home is drastically underpriced.

So what does this mean for YOU?

BUYERS:

Don’t rely on headlines—review market comparables with your Realtor.

Sold data shows market value

, but active and pending listings show where the market is heading. Look at inventory levels and speed of sales to judge if the market is accelerating or cooling.

SELLERS:

Price your home correctly from the start—too high and you won’t get showings, too low and you leave $$ on the table.

Most importantly, stay flexible. The market is constantly shifting, and your pricing strategy should adapt with it.

In today’s market, strategy matters more than ever. Work with an expert who knows how to position your home or offer to win. Drop me a DM and let's talk strategy!