Despite Recession Fears, Nearly 30% of Home Shoppers Say a Downturn Could Make Them More Likely to Buy a Home

• 54.4% of surveyed buyers said a recession would have no impact on their decision to purchase a home
• Inventory shortages and budget constraints are the biggest barriers to entry for buyers
• Declining concerns about overbidding point to a calmer and less competitive market

AUSTIN, Texas, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As economic anxiety intensifies, a new survey from Realtor.com^® reveals that U.S. homebuyers are bracing for a potential recession, but is there a silver lining? While 63.4% of surveyed home shoppers said they expect a recession within the next 12 months, marking one of the highest levels of concern since 2019, nearly 30% indicated that a recession would make them somewhat more likely to purchase a home. This is nearly twice as large as the share who report they'd be less likely to buy a home in a recession (15.8%). The nuanced sentiments signal a unique buying landscape shaped by caution and, on the flip side, opportunity.

"Confidence in the economy has clearly taken a hit amid ongoing headlines around trade, tariffs, and rate uncertainty," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com^®. "But while concerns are definitely present, some buyers anticipate that a downturn can bring opportunity. Well-prepared buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines are likely motivated by personal and lifestyle needs like growing families, new jobs, or retirements and these considerations can outweigh short term economic uncertainties."

Economic Uncertainty Isn't Stopping Everyone

There are heightened fears of a recession. But, for the 29.8% of buyers who remain motivated, and even indicate they could be more likely to buy in a downturn, the potential for lower mortgage rates and less competition amid an economic slowdown serve as key incentives. At the same time, 54.4% said a recession would have no impact on their decision to purchase a home. This is a signal that many buyers are driven more by life circumstances than macroeconomic shifts. Only 15.8% of respondents reported they would be less likely to buy in a recession, reinforcing the idea that the housing market may see continued resilience even in a shaky economic climate.

Barriers to Buying: Inventory, Budgets, and Borrowing Challenges

While there is a silver lining for many buyers, another aspect of the market brings challenges. Limited for-sale housing inventory continues to be the biggest roadblock for buyers, with 44.3% citing a lack of homes that meet their needs as a major concern. While listing activity has improved compared to last year, total active inventory remains 16.3% below historical norms, limiting choice and dampening momentum.

Budget constraints were reported as a major issue for 36% of surveyed homebuyers, an issue that could intensify in the coming quarters if inflation picks up due to tariffs, or if interest rates remain elevated. Credit-related challenges are also growing. 13.5% of buyers cited poor credit scores as a barrier while 8.2% struggled with mortgage qualification. With lenders tightening standards and student loan changes impacting credit health, the financing landscape may become more difficult for some buyers to navigate.

A Less Competitive Market Offers Relief for Some

The competitive frenzy of recent years appears to be tapering off. Just 7.7% of surveyed buyers identified overbidding as a top concern in the first quarter of 2025, down from 10.4% a year ago. This trend aligns with increased time on market, a moderate rise in listings, and more stable pricing; all of which point to a slower, less stressful home search experience. For buyers able to act amid the uncertainty, today's conditions may offer more negotiating power, more choice, and less pressure than in recent years.

For more data and complete survey findings please visit here.

Methodology

In order to better understand the sentiment and experiences of buyers, sellers, and renters currently on the market for homes, the Realtor.com Economics team conducts a randomized survey of visitors to listing detail pages on the site, the Site Visitors Survey. Respondents are asked about the reasons they're visiting the site, how they've been engaged with the housing market, and how they feel that current market conditions are impacting their behavior. Surveys are administered randomly to visitors on Realtor.com. For this report, we consider only respondents who indicate that they are home buyers and focus on results from 2025Q1. Weights are calculated by computing the share of survey respondents falling into categories based on age and adjusting these proportions to match the share of all visitors to Realtor.com and similar online real estate marketplaces segmented by age.

About Realtor.com^®

Realtor.com^® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com^® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com^® is operated by News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS, NWSA]) [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media contact:  Asees Singh, [email protected]

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SOURCE Realtor.com