REMAX: January listings surge eases buyer pressure, nudges U.S. housing market toward balance

Dateline: Denver — REMAX reports a pronounced January reset in the U.S. housing market, driven by a surge in new listings that eases buyer pressure and nudges supply toward balance.

Inventory Rise and Buyer Leverage Signal Move Toward Balance

REMAX’s January National Housing Report shows sales falling sharply as usual after the holidays, with closed transactions down 32.0% from December and 6.0% versus January 2025, while new listings jump 61.8% month‑over‑month though remain 3.8% below last January. Across 52 metro areas, active inventory is essentially flat from December (‑0.1%) but up 10.9% year‑over‑year — marking the 25th consecutive month of annual inventory gains that analysts say are loosening the tight supply that has constrained buyers in recent years. REMAX datelines the findings from Denver on Feb. 17, 2026.

Market tempo eases as days on market rise to 62, up from 61 in December and 56 a year earlier, and months’ supply stands at 3.1, down from 3.5 in December but above 2.8 a year ago. Median sales price registers $425,000, slipping 2.0% from December but up 1.0% year‑over‑year, while buyers pay about 98% of the asking price, unchanged from both December and January 2025. REMAX CEO Erik Carlson says the combination of higher inventory and a jump in new listings gives buyers more options and signals movement toward market balance, urging consumers to use experienced professionals to make strategic decisions into 2026.

Industry observers note that sustained year‑over‑year inventory gains coupled with modest price appreciation may reduce bidding pressure and support an orderly market recovery if trends persist, but they caution that seasonal patterns still influence monthly volatility. The report frames January’s mix of elevated new listings and softer closings as consistent with seasonal resets that can accelerate shifts in local markets.

Leadership Moves to Support Global Expansion

REMAX strengthens its global leadership on Feb. 18 by promoting Chris Lim to President while he retains his role as Chief Growth Officer, and by adding Pierre Montagna as Vice President of Global Sales and Lisa Sennstrom as Director of Global Sales. The moves aim to accelerate international expansion, deepen affiliate support and drive innovation across a network that now includes more than 145,000 agents in over 8,500 offices across 120+ countries and territories.

Denver Snapshot Mirrors Seasonal Swing

Locally, Denver shows the dynamic at work: new listings surge 155.4% month‑over‑month and rise 4.8% year‑over‑year even as closed transactions fall 36.0% month‑over‑month and 14.0% year‑over‑year. Brokers such as Christine Dupont‑Patz of REMAX of Cherry Creek attribute the pattern largely to seasonal swings that temporarily amplify the national reset.