Although the spring 2023 housing market has little resemblance to the frenzied 2021 buying and selling season, there's evidence some markets and types of houses are starting to become more competitive, owing mostly to a lack of inventory.

Forty-eight percent of homes sold nationally during the four weeks ending April 30 went under contract within two weeks, down from 51% a year earlier but up from 46% a month prior, Seattle-based Redfin Corp. (Nasdaq: RDFN) recently found.

While demand for housing among buyers exists, a key reason for increased competition for certain homes is because inventory remains extremely tight. Owners who locked in record-low mortgage rates during the pandemic are hanging onto their homes, exacerbating a persistent national housing shortage.

Redfin found new listings in April were down 23% from a year earlier, which is the second biggest decline since the start of the pandemic and outpacing the 17% year-over-year decline in pending sales.

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By Ashley Fahey - Editor, The National Observer: Real Estate Edition