Meet the homeowners who have been forced to slash their asking prices in a stagnant market. ‘It’s been a roller coaster of emotion’

Across the United States, a stagnant housing market has left many homeowners in a predicament, unable to sell their homes or move forward with other major life decisions. Sellers are under pressure to lower their asking prices and contribute to buyer costs, as the market has shifted to favor buyers over sellers.

Liz Suder, a 56-year-old empty nester, had to sell her four-bedroom, three-bath home in Murphy, Texas, after her three children moved out. She initially listed the home for $750,000 in April 2025, but after multiple price reductions, it remained unsold. She eventually sold it for $650,000 after cutting the price by $100,000 and contributing $9,000 towards repairs.

Rick Ganga, a 58-year-old operations manager, is stuck in Blaine, Washington, as he goes through a divorce and needs to sell his three-bedroom, two-bath home. Despite lowering the price to just under $800,000, he has not received any offers. Ganga believes the home will likely remain on the market until the spring or summer of next year.

Ethan Butner, a service manager in Troutdale, Oregon, faces a similar dilemma. He has an offer accepted on a new home near Portland, but first needs to sell his current three-bathroom, two-bath house for $480,000. After slashing the price by $30,000, Butner hasn't seen much success in attracting buyers.