📊 National vs. Local: Inventory Is Up, but Recovery Is Uneven

Across the U.S., the number of homes for sale is up significantly—at least 19% year-over-year in every region, and nearly 41% in the West. That's thanks to two key factors:

• 🏠More sellers are finally listing their homes, even without the rate drops they hoped for.
• ⏳Homes are taking longer to sell, meaning listings are sitting longer and increasing inventory.

According to Realtor.com, May 2025 saw more new listings than any May in the past three years, and homes are averaging 51 days on the market, getting back to a more typical pace. This means the market is rebalancing.

But here's what we're seeing right here in Wisconsin…

🧀 Local Breakdown: South Central Wisconsin Is Slowly Catching Up

According to the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, here's what happened in April 2025 statewide:

• 🔎In micropolitan areas (smaller cities and towns), inventory improved 8.6% to 3.8 months.
• 🏞️Rural areas saw a bigger bump—13.6% growth, now at 5.0 months of inventory.

🔍 Local Expertise Matters More Than Ever

Here's the bottom line: you do have more choices today than you did a year ago. But if you're looking in Waunakee, Madison, Sun Prairie, DeForest, or anywhere nearby, the market still favors sellers, especially in certain price points and neighborhoods.

Some counties—like Sauk County and parts of rural Columbia County—are showing stronger inventory growth. That might be where your opportunity lies. I've helped many clients expand their search just a few miles and find the perfect home where the competition is less intense.

💬 What This Means for You

If you're buying:

• 📍Work with a local expert (like me!) who knows which areas have more supply and where competition is still high.
• 💡Be flexible with your location—consider nearby communities that offer better value and more options.
• 🏷️Understand pricing trends. In Dane County, the median home price barely moved—up just 0.1%—which means we may be hitting a pricing plateau.

If you're selling:

• 📸Presentation and pricing are still key—buyers may have more choices, but they're still picky.
• 🏃‍♂️The days of 10 offers in 24 hours might be fading, but well-positioned homes are still moving fast in the right price range.
• 💬Let's strategize—I'll show you how to stand out even in a shifting market.