Atlanta’s housing market continues to show signs of a buyer’s shift, with elevated pending home sale cancellations, rising inventory, and modest price growth, based on the latest available data as of October 2025.
Mortgage delinquency rates remain low nationally but are slightly higher in Atlanta compared to pre-pandemic levels.
’People Just Don’t Have the Money’
Kimberly Jordan, a loan officer at Regions Bank, told AtlantaFi.com that local job losses and a tightening economy have put many Atlanta homeowners in the red.
“People just don’t have the money,” Jordan said. “And if you can’t pay your mortgage — your most important bill — what does that say about your other bills?”
Another thing she’s seeing in Atlanta is that many pending home sales are falling through — buyers are pulling out.
When pressed for a reason why, she said: “It’s all about the money. Income.”
Below, I’ll break down key metrics relevant to the Atlanta homebuying trends and mortgage performance, from metrics compiled by Zillow, Redfin and Realtor.com.
Pending Home Purchase Cancellations
Atlanta has consistently ranked among the top U.S. metros for the highest share of pending sales falling through in 2025, driven by high prices, elevated mortgage rates (around 6.8% as of late summer), inspection issues, and buyer remorse in a more balanced market.
This is far higher than the national average of ~15% for recent months.
| Month/Quarter | Cancellation Rate | Key Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 19.8% | Highest in the nation; up from 16.6% in Jan 2024. | Redfin |
| April 2025 | 20.0% | Led all major metros; national rate was 14.3%. | Redfin |
| June 2025 | 19.6% | Third-highest among 44 metros (behind Jacksonville and Las Vegas). | Redfin |
| July 2025 | 19.7% | Fourth-highest; ~730 cancellations in metro area. | Redfin |
| August 2025 | 21.0% | Highest among analyzed metros; 1,532 cancellations. National rate hit 15.1%. | Redfin |
- Trend: Rates have hovered around 20% through mid-2025, up from ~14-16% in 2024. No full September/October data yet, but seasonal patterns suggest persistence into Q4.
- Reasons: Buyers are leveraging longer inspection periods (average days on market: 66-84) to negotiate repairs or walk away for better options amid 4.6 months of supply (June data).
Mortgage Delinquency Rates
Actual mortgage delinquencies (borrowers missing payments on existing loans) are low in Atlanta, reflecting strong home equity (median loan-to-value ~60%) and no widespread “walking away” from mortgages.
Rates are higher than the national average but well below 2008-2010 crisis levels (which exceeded 10%).
| Period | Overall Delinquency Rate (30+ days past due) | Serious Delinquency Rate (90+ days) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | ~4.04% (national; Atlanta slightly higher at ~4.5%) | ~2.0% (national) | Up 6 bps from Q4 2024; Atlanta ranked 5th-highest nationally for serious delinquencies. |
| April 2025 | 3.22% (national) | 4.5% (Atlanta-specific for 90+ days) | Up 1 bp from March; still below pre-pandemic norms. |
| Q2 2025 | 3.93% (national) | ~2.13% (GSE loans nationally) | Down 11 bps from Q1; no Atlanta-specific Q2 breakdown, but trends stable. |
| Q3 2025 (prelim) | ~3.4% (national estimate) | ~1.6% (serious national) | Slight uptick expected; resilient due to job growth in tech/finance sectors. |
- Trend: Atlanta’s rates are ~0.5-1% above national averages, tied to affordability pressures from rising prices, but foreclosures remain at record lows (0.20% initiation rate in Q1).
- Context: No evidence of 15% defaults; strategic walkaways are negligible with positive equity.
This bar chart tracks overall delinquency rates (30+ days past due), showing Atlanta’s rates running ~0.5–1% above national figures but remaining low historically. The slight uptick in Q1 2025 reflects seasonal factors and local affordability pressures, with no signs of widespread defaults.
Broader Housing Market Stats (Latest as of August/September 2025)
- Median Home Sale Price: $400,000 (up 2.6% YoY as of August); Zillow typical value: $379,911 (down 2.3% YoY). Forecasts: +1.5-3% growth in 2025.
- Inventory: 20,582 active listings (June; +36.8% YoY); 9,122 for sale (July; +9.9% MoM). Months of supply: 4.6 (balanced market).
- Sales Volume: 5,277 closed (June; +8% YoY); 4,272 (October 2024 data, +4.1% YoY). Pending sales: Down 9% YoY in March.
- Days on Market: 66 days average (up from 55 in early 2024); hot homes pending in 27 days.
- Market Competitiveness: Somewhat competitive (Redfin score ~50/100); homes sell 2-3% below list; 13% sell above list (down YoY).
- Forecast for Q4 2025/2026: Sales up 6-11% nationally; Atlanta prices +3-4%; rates to 6.0-6.5% by year-end, boosting affordability.
Final Word
Atlanta’s market is transitioning to more buyer-friendly conditions, but strong in-migration (metro population ~6.4M, +4.7% since 2020) and job growth (266K in business/finance) support steady demand. For personalized advice, consult local realtors or recent MLS reports.
Atlanta has one of the best real estate markets in the country, with affordable housing in every quadrant of the city. Large backyards, manicured parcels and strong neighborhoods with ample dining amenities make it one of the top places for transplants.
Not to mention that the city’s dining scene is the best in the Southeast. Looking for a home? Check out our Real Estate Resource Page.
Keep up with what’s going on in Atlanta’s real estate scene here with our Apartment Guide.
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