Homebuyer Regret Drops as Slower Market Gives Buyers More Confidence
A new Realtor.com study shows a major shift in how recent buyers feel about their home purchases. One of the most common regrets feeling like they overpaid fell sharply from 15% in 2023 to just 8% in 2025. This reflects a market where buyers now have more time, more information, and fewer bidding frenzies shaping their decisions.
In 2025, nearly 37% of buyers said they had no regrets at all about buying their home, up from 31% two years earlier. With homes sitting on the market longer 63 days in October 2025 compared to 50 days in 2023 buyers are getting the breathing room that was missing during the fast-moving pandemic market.
“As the housing market has slowed and buyers have more space to think, regret is trending down,” said Laura Eddy, VP of Research and Insights at Realtor.com. “Today’s buyers are more prepared, more selective, and generally more confident in the choices they’re making.”
Still, some challenges remain. Among buyers who did express regret, the top reasons involved the ongoing costs of homeownership something many first-time buyers in particular struggle to fully anticipate.
Top Buyer Regrets in 2025
| Regret | All Buyers | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Boomers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More home maintenance than expected | 16% | 11% | 16% | 12% | 15% |
| Higher spending on household items | 15% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 12% |
| Savings account drained | 14% | 9% | 15% | 10% | 6% |
| Higher cost of ownership | 11% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 9% |
| Worried about future interest rates | 10% | 11% | 12% | 9% | 3% |
| Home not in expected condition | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% |
| Rushed into the decision | 9% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 6% |
| Home is too small | 9% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 6% |
Maintenance costs and household spending were especially common concerns. Even so, fewer buyers are reporting emotional or financial regrets than in the frenzied markets of 2020–2022.
A Generational Split in Buyer Confidence
The report highlights a clear divide in how different age groups feel after closing on a home:
Boomers (61–79): The Most Confident Group
- 60% reported no regrets the highest of any generation.
- Their concerns tended to be practical, like upkeep or routine costs.
Gen X (45–60): More Cautious, but Mostly Positive
- 45% had no regrets.
- They shared similar pain points with Boomers: maintenance and budget pressures.
Millennials (29–44): Facing Financial Tradeoffs
- Only 34% felt regret-free.
- Most likely to drain savings and struggle with new household expenses.
- Continued affordability challenges remain a major factor for this group.
Gen Z (18–28): Most Likely to Feel Regret
- Only 27% had no regrets the lowest of any age group.
- More likely to skip inspections, feel stretched by ongoing costs, or regret location decisions.
Younger buyers were also more likely to say they chose the wrong neighborhood or underestimated commute times issues often tied to strict budgets and limited choices in today’s high-cost market.
Additional Regret Factors
| Regret | All Buyers | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Boomers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid too much | 8% | 10% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
| Skipped inspections | 8% | 12% | 9% | 6% | 4% |
| Wished for contingencies | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 3% |
| Didn’t consider noise/traffic | 8% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 1% |
| Settled for wrong home | 8% | 10% | 7% | 7% | 4% |
| Home too far from work | 8% | 11% | 8% | 3% | 2% |
| Don’t like neighbors | 7% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 4% |
| Home too big | 6% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 1% |
| Don’t like neighborhood | 4% | 10% | 5% | 4% | 2% |
A Shift in Buyer Mindset
The overall decline in regret reveals a major shift in how buyers are approaching the market. The red-hot sellers’ market of past years forced many people to:
- Make quick decisions
- Skip inspections
- Stretch budgets
- Settle for homes they weren’t sure about
Now, with homes taking longer to sell and fewer bidding wars, buyers have more room to evaluate their choices calmly. Even with affordability being a challenge nationwide, today’s market is giving buyers something they didn’t have in recent years: time and clarity.
“Buyers today are entering the market with clearer expectations and stronger financial footing,” Eddy said. “The slower pace is helping people make decisions that truly feel right.”
The drop in regret shows the impact of this shift. Instead of scrambling to compete, buyers are choosing homes that fit their budgets, needs, and long-term plans—leading to more satisfaction and fewer surprises after move-in. For direct financing consultations or mortgage options for you visit 👉 Nadlan Capital Group.
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