Introduction
Not long ago, selling a home – even here in Tampa Bay – often meant fielding multiple offers above the asking price within days of listing. Those red-hot bidding wars have cooled off, and today’s market is a different story. Buyers have become far more selective and price-sensitive, thanks in part to higher interest rates and a growing number of homes for sale. In fact, experts warn that home sellers with unrealistic price expectations are “setting themselves up for pain in a softening market that increasingly favors buyers”. The bottom line: to succeed now, you need to adjust your strategy from the frenzy of yesterday’s market to the realities of today’s.
There’s a Real Price Disconnect Between Buyers and Sellers
Homeowners and buyers are currently on very different pages when it comes to price. Many sellers still hope to cash out at last year’s record-high values, but buyers (facing affordability limits with higher mortgage rates) just aren’t willing to pay those prices. This mismatch has created a noticeable gap between what sellers ask for and what buyers actually pay.
The chart above highlights the growing gap between median asking prices and median sales prices. In early 2025, the typical U.S. home was listed at about $469,729 — roughly 9% higher than the $431,057 it ultimately sold for. This is the widest list-vs-sale price gap since 2020, underscoring how sellers’ expectations are overshooting what buyers can afford in today’s market. Why? Many sellers are still pricing based on last year’s peak comps, while buyers are pulling back due to high borrowing costs and budget constraints.
The data shows this disconnect clearly. In a recent Realtor.com survey, 81% of potential home sellers predicted they would get their asking price or higher. Yet in reality, price reductions are becoming more common – the share of listings with a price drop hit a multi-year high in April. Inventory is also on the rise (active listings were up 30% year-over-year this April), giving buyers more choice and leverage. In short, many sellers are finding that buyers won’t chase inflated prices the way they might have a year or two ago.
What Happens When You Overprice Your House?
You might be tempted to “test the market” with a high price, but overpricing your home can backfire in several ways:
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Fewer showings and offers: Buyers today are savvy and budget-conscious. If your listing is priced above what similar homes are selling for, many buyers will simply skip it. As one agent put it, “if you overprice, chances are you’ll get no activity, and then it will become even harder to recoup your investment”. The best interest in a home typically comes within the first few weeks – an overpriced home can miss that window.
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Longer time on market: Overpriced homes tend to linger. Nationally, homes now spend a median of about 50 days on the market, four days longer than a year ago and the longest April timeframe since 2020. When a home sits unsold for weeks, it becomes what agents call “stale.”
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Chasing the price down: Often, a seller who starts too high ends up making one price cut after another. “If you overprice your home, it’s going to sit on the market... and then you’re going to be chasing the price down to what the market’s willing to pay for it,” warns one Florida broker. In other words, you might eventually sell for less than you would have if you’d priced it right initially.
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Buyer skepticism: A listing that lingers or gets repeated price drops raises red flags. Buyers may wonder, “Is something wrong with the house?” Stale listings often get labeled as “snakebit,” meaning buyers suspect some hidden issue. This stigma can further reduce buyer interest, creating a vicious cycle where the home sits even longer.
You Still Have a Great Opportunity – If You Price Your House Right
The good news is that today’s market can still reward sellers – if you price your house correctly from the start. Pricing right doesn’t mean giving your home away; it means setting a fair, strategic price that reflects current conditions. Remember, home values in Tampa Bay climbed drastically in recent years. Tampa saw nearly a 28% jump in prices in just one year during the pandemic boom, and although prices have leveled off since those highs, most homeowners who have owned for a few years are still sitting on considerable equity gains. In other words, you can price your home competitively and likely walk away with a healthy profit. As Realtor.com’s chief economist notes, even after adjusting expectations, sellers are likely to “walk away from a sale with good money in their pocket”.
This is where partnering with a local expert like Annie at Rocks Realty makes all the difference. A professional who knows the Tampa Bay market can help you determine the optimal listing price – one that attracts serious buyers and maximizes your return. Annie will analyze recent comparable sales, current buyer demand, and the unique features of your home to arrive at a price that’s compelling without leaving money on the table. By pricing it right from day one, you increase your chances of getting strong offers faster, rather than having the home linger and eventually selling for less after painful reductions. In today’s market, the secret to selling for the best price is no secret at all: it’s smart pricing and expert guidance.
Bottom Line
Selling a house in 2025 isn’t the free-for-all it was a couple of years ago, but it’s still a great opportunity for those who adapt. If you price your home correctly and work with an experienced local agent, you can absolutely succeed in today’s market. Buyers are out there, and well-priced homes do sell – often quickly. The key is to be realistic and strategic on price from the start. Ready to make the most of this market? Contact Annie to sell your home.
