What distinguishes a buyer's market from a seller's market?

The distinction between a buyer's market and a seller's market fundamentally revolves around supply and demand dynamics in the real estate market. In a buyer's market, there is an abundance of available properties (high inventory) relative to the number of buyers. This oversupply creates downward pressure on prices, giving buyers more leverage when negotiating terms and prices because they have more options available to them.

Conversely, a seller's market occurs when the demand for homes exceeds the available supply (low inventory), placing sellers in a favorable position. In such scenarios, competition among buyers can lead to higher prices and fewer concessions from sellers since they have limited options available to choose from.

Thus, the statement about how a buyer's market favors buyers with more inventory, while a seller's market favors sellers with less inventory, accurately encapsulates the characteristics of both market conditions. This understanding is crucial for real estate professionals in making strategic decisions for both buyers and sellers.