Fewer Listings, More Competition

Phil James Realtor®
John L. Scott Real Estate | Bellevue Main
Week of May 16, 2026

What I’m Seeing
in the Seattle Market This Week

Fewer new listings came to market in Seattle this week than at this same point last spring. About 10 percent fewer. When supply tightens while buyers remain engaged, competition concentrates around what’s available. Here’s what that looks like right now.

Seattle: New Listings
382
Week ending May 15 · down ~10% vs. last spring
Most Recent Week 1 Rate
30.70%
Week ending May 8 · 355 listings
Largest Inventory Segment
$750K–1M
105 new listings this week

8-Week Trend: New Listings Under Contract in Week One

Percentage of new resale listings going under contract within the first 7 days. A higher number means buyers are acting faster and sellers have more urgency on their side.

Seattle

382 homes came to market in Seattle this week, compared to 425 at this same point last spring. That’s a 10 percent decline year-over-year. Week 1 absorption data isn’t complete for this week yet, but recent weeks have held above 30%, and reduced supply tends to concentrate buyer activity around fewer options.

Eastside

The Eastside has been tracking around 20 to 21% Week 1 absorption in recent weeks, softer than Seattle’s pace. With supply also tightening across both markets, the combination of lower inventory and still-active buyers creates a different dynamic than we’ve seen through most of 2025.

Seattle: New Listings by Price Tier | Week Ending May 15

New listing count by price tier, week ending May 15. Week 1 absorption data is not yet complete for this week. The most recent complete Week 1 read (May 8) showed 30.70% across all Seattle listings.

Price RangeNew ListingsNote
Under $350K19
$350K–$500K33
$500K–$750K76
$750K–$1M105Largest segment this week
$1M–$1.5M80
$1.5M–$2M39
$2M+30
Total382Down ~10% vs. same week 2025

What This Means for You

If You’re Thinking About Selling

Fewer homes coming to market generally works in a seller’s favor, particularly in price ranges where buyer demand has been consistent. The $750K to $1.5M range in Seattle has been the most active this spring. If you’ve been thinking about your timing, tighter supply through the back half of May is a dynamic worth paying attention to. Homes that come in well-positioned are getting real attention quickly.

If You’re Thinking About Buying

When new listings slow down, the patience game gets harder. A home you’re considering now may not be replaced by something comparable next week. That doesn’t mean every home draws ten offers by Sunday, but it does mean that sitting on a property while waiting for something better carries more risk than it did when listings were flowing more freely.

What I keep coming back to this week:

“Supply in Seattle tightened this week, about 10 percent fewer new listings than at this same point last spring. That’s a meaningful shift. When buyers are still engaged and fewer homes are coming to market, the homes that do come in well get attention quickly.”

PJ
Phil James
Realtor® · John L. Scott Real Estate · Bellevue Main

If you have questions about what this data means for your specific situation, whether you’re thinking about selling, buying, or just want to know where things stand, reach out. There’s no obligation. Just a real conversation.

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