Now's the Time: Late Summer Is the Best Season For Homebuyers to Score a Deal in These U.S. Metros

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Rhea-AI Summary

Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT) highlighted a new Redfin report showing late summer as the best season for homebuyers to find discounts in many U.S. metros. Late August favors areas like Anaheim, Austin, Sacramento and Nassau County, while early fall benefits buyers in Texas, Southern California, Baltimore, Nashville, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.

Market Context

RKT has an active S-3ASR registration dated Oct. 1, 2025, adding capital-markets context to this sea...

Analysis

RKT has an active S-3ASR registration dated Oct. 1, 2025, adding capital-markets context to this seasonal housing analysis. Moderate short positioning was a separate risk factor; the report focuses on timing, inventory and negotiating conditions.

Key Figures

Seller-to-buyer ratio: roughly 2x

1 metrics

Seller-to-buyer ratio roughly 2x Most of Texas, Nashville and Atlanta

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Aug 20 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Aug 20	partnership sponsorship	Positive	-4.0%	Rocket Mortgage named presenting sponsor for national student advertising competition.
Aug 20	housing listings update	Negative	-4.0%	New listings increased while pending sales declined amid high housing costs.
Aug 18	home price update	Positive	-3.5%	U.S. home prices rose year over year, despite weakness across several Texas markets.
Aug 17	board appointment	Positive	-1.7%	Sarah Watterson joined the board as an independent Class III director.
Aug 17	affordability analysis	Negative	-1.7%	Housing and childcare costs consumed more than half of typical family income.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

All five recent news events had negative 24-hour reactions, with three divergences and two alignments between event character and price response.

Key Terms

buyer's markets, seller's markets

2 terms

buyer's markets financial

"Many of the places where the prime dealmaking window is late August or September are buyer's markets"

A buyer's market is a market condition where supply of an asset—stocks, bonds, real estate or goods—outpaces demand, giving purchasers more choices and bargaining power and generally putting downward pressure on prices. For investors it matters because it can mean lower purchase prices, more time to shop, and greater leverage to negotiate terms; think of it like a store with too much inventory, where shoppers can pick the best items and sellers compete on price.

seller's markets financial

"which are seller's markets, buyers may want to pay extra attention"

A seller's market is a market condition where demand for an asset or goods exceeds available supply, giving sellers the upper hand to command higher prices, stricter terms, and faster sales—like an auction with more buyers than items. For investors it matters because prices generally rise, transactions happen more quickly, and traditional valuation and liquidity patterns shift, affecting how market signals are interpreted.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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08/21/2026 - 08:15 AM

Late August is the best time for homebuyers to score a deal in parts of California, Austin, TX and certain New York City suburbs
Mid-September is the prime dealmaking window for buyers in Baltimore, Nashville, Southern California and parts of Texas
Late September is the sweet spot for buyers in Houston, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

SEATTLE, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Late August is prime time for homebuyers to score a bargain in much of California, including Anaheim, Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose. That's according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket. The savings sweet spot is the same in Austin, TX, Portland, OR, and two New York City suburbs: Nassau County, NY and Newark, NJ.

The best time for homebuyers to get a deal is typically late summer to early fall

In Atlanta, Denver and Seattle, house hunters may want to hold out just a little longer: The best deals in those metros tend to arrive in early September.

U.S. Metros Where the Best Time For Homebuyers to Get a Deal Is Late Summer
Late August	Early September
Anaheim, CA	Atlanta, GA
Austin, TX	Denver, CO
Nassau County, NY	Seattle, WA
Newark, NJ
Oakland, CA
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
San Jose, CA

This is according to a Home Economics and Redfin analysis of housing market data.

Discounts off a home's original asking price—through price drops and/or negotiations between buyer and seller—typically grow in late summer and peak in early fall. In some parts of the country, peak discounts arrive a little earlier or a little later. Discounts typically plateau or shrink heading into winter.

"Each homebuyer has their own timeline based on personal circumstances. But seasonality trends suggest buyers in these places looking to score a bargain may want to hit the pavement as summer comes to a close and the leaves start falling," said Asad Khan, a senior economist at Redfin. "Sellers who put their home in the market in the spring or early summer and haven't offloaded it yet may be open to dropping their price or offering concessions."

Early Fall Is the Best Time For Deals in Texas

Prime dealmaking time comes in mid-September in Texas and Southern California, along with Baltimore, Jacksonville, FL and Nashville, TN.

Late September is the sweet spot for buyers to get a deal in Houston, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

In These Metros, the Best Time For Homebuyers to Get a Deal Is Early Fall
Mid September	Late September
Baltimore, MD	Houston, TX
Dallas, TX	Las Vegas, NV
Fort Worth, TX	San Francisco, CA
Jacksonville, FL	Washington, DC
Los Angeles, CA
Nashville, TN
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA

Another bonus for buyers: Many of the places where the prime dealmaking window is late August or September are buyer's markets, meaning buyers hold the negotiating power. In most of Texas, Nashville and Atlanta, for instance, there are roughly twice as many home sellers as buyers in the market.

"Buyers have the power and the opportunity to get a great deal on a home they would have been priced out of two years ago," said Vanessa Leimback, a Redfin Premier agent in the Seattle area. "First-time buyers are getting qualified, applying for first-time homebuyer incentives and getting concessions from sellers—often to help buy down the mortgage rate—and closing the deal. I'm also seeing a lot of homeowners who bought pre-2019 selling their home and using their equity to upgrade to a larger house with more land."

In places like Nassau County and Newark—both located just outside New York City—which are seller's markets, buyers may want to pay extra attention to the best time of year to score a deal.

It's important for homebuyers to remember that the best time to buy is more complex than just the time of year when they're most likely to score a deal. Redfin economists say buyers should balance choice and competition. More inventory to choose from improves the chance of finding the home that's right for them, and more competition creates more urgency and requires stronger offers to win a home—decreasing the likelihood that buyers will get a deal.

To view the full report, including a methodology and data on the best time for buyers to get a deal in additional U.S. metros, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/best-time-to-buy-home-late-summer

About Redfin
Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company with the country's most-visited real estate brokerage website. As part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Redfin is creating an integrated homeownership platform from search to close to make the dream of homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. Redfin's clients can see homes first with on-demand tours, easily apply for a home loan with Rocket Mortgage, and save thousands in fees while working with a top local agent.

You can find more information about Redfin and get the latest housing market data and research at https://www.redfin.com/news. For more information about Rocket Companies, visit https://www.rocketcompanies.com.

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SOURCE Redfin

FAQ

What does the new Redfin report, highlighted by Rocket Companies (RKT), say about the best time to buy a home?

The report indicates late summer to early fall is often the best time to secure discounts in many U.S. metros. According to Rocket Companies, price reductions and buyer-seller negotiations typically increase from late August through September before easing into winter.

Which U.S. metros offer the best late August homebuying deals according to Rocket Companies (RKT)?

Late August is the prime deal window in Anaheim, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Austin, Portland, Nassau County and Newark. According to Rocket Companies, these markets historically see growing discounts off original list prices through price cuts and negotiations at that time.

When is the best time to get a homebuying deal in early fall, based on the Rocket Companies (RKT) update?

Mid-September favors buyers in Texas and Southern California, plus Baltimore, Jacksonville and Nashville. According to Rocket Companies, late September is better for Houston, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., when discounts off asking prices tend to peak.

How do buyer’s markets in Texas and other metros affect homebuyers, according to Rocket Companies (RKT)?

In much of Texas, Nashville and Atlanta, there are roughly twice as many sellers as buyers. According to Rocket Companies, this buyer’s market structure strengthens buyer negotiating power and can support concessions such as price cuts or mortgage-rate buydowns.

Are Nassau County, NY and Newark, NJ good places to find late-summer housing deals according to Rocket Companies (RKT)?

Yes, Nassau County and Newark see late-August discount opportunities despite being seller’s markets. According to Rocket Companies, buyers there may benefit by timing purchases carefully, since peak deal periods are more important where sellers generally hold more leverage.

Why do Rocket Companies (RKT) and Redfin emphasize seasonality instead of just price when timing a home purchase?

They note that buyers must balance discounts with inventory and competition, not just timing for deals. According to Rocket Companies, more listings improve choice, while stronger competition can require higher offers and reduce the likelihood of securing a bargain.