Realtors are experiencing a surge in buyers withdrawing from home purchases as consumers become increasingly selective in a challenging real estate environment. A report from Redfin revealed that nearly 56,000 home purchase agreements were canceled in June, representing 15% of all homes that went under contract that month. This marks the highest percentage recorded for June by the real estate platform.
Julie Zubiate, a real estate agent with Redfin Premier in the San Francisco Bay Area, attributed the uptick in cancellations to buyers withdrawing over minor issues. She noted that the high costs associated with purchasing a home in today’s market make it difficult for buyers to compromise on their must-have features.
In Miami, Redfin agent Rafael Corrales reported “nightmare scenarios” of cancellations occurring over trivial details, with approximately 2,500 home purchases called off last month. This accounts for about 17.6% of homes under contract in the area during June. Corrales pointed out that affordability remains the predominant concern for buyers.
The median home sale price reached a record $442,525 in June, with the average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage at 6.92%. Along with escalating home prices and persistently high mortgage rates, potential buyers are also facing increased costs linked to insurance, property taxes, and HOA fees, all of which have been intensified by inflation.
The national affordability crisis has contributed to a significant drop in home sales, according to Redfin. Home sales fell by 0.5% in June compared to the previous month, marking the largest decline since October 2023. Year-over-year sales also decreased by 1.1% and were 21.5% lower than pre-pandemic figures.