• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
FinanceHousing

This chart shows why the housing market may see an end-of-September shock

By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 12, 2021, 11:00 AM ET

The worst of the 2021 bidding wars look like they’re in the rearview mirror as the red hot housing market finally cools down a bit.

Since bottoming out this spring, the number of homes for sale is up 30%. Sure, some of that can be attributed to seasonality, but the bigger reason is buyers are finally balking at insane prices—which have risen 18% over the past 12 months. Another factor: Edgy sellers who don’t want to miss out on profits may be rushing to put their homes on the market—and may feel a bit more comfortable moving now than they did when the pandemic was raging unchecked.

But this softening isn’t over: There’s more inventory looming.

The mortgage forbearance program, which allows some borrowers to pause their payments, is set to begin winding down on Sept. 30. There are still 1.7 million borrowers enrolled in the program. Not all of these struggling borrowers are going to be able to afford those payments. Some of them will simply sell rather than restart paying. That of course, means more inventory.

As Fortune has previously reported, this will shake the housing market. In a nation of more than 80 million homeowners, 1.7 million might not sound like a lot. That is, until you consider there are only 1.3 million homes for sale.

Keep in mind that not every borrower will exit forbearance at the same time. Instead, they’ll be phased out over several months. But the largest chunk—estimated at nearly 452,000 borrowers—are expected to drop out of the program at the end of the month (see the chart below). This risk of a sudden influx of sellers in late September and October is why the end of forbearance has the attention of so many industry insiders.

The big question is how many of those struggling borrowers will sell? To find out, Zillow ran the numbers. The real estate firm estimates 25% of the 1.7 million borrowers still in forbearance are likely to list their home for sale. That would, Zillow researchers predict, add an additional 211,700 homes onto the market in the coming two months alone.

“Hundreds of thousands of U.S. homeowners are expected to exit forbearance in coming months. A significant share of these homeowners will likely end up listing their home for sale, contributing meaningfully to overall inventory levels and allowing homeowners in forbearance to benefit from home price appreciation and use the equity gained for a future down payment,” write the Zillow researchers.

Even if 25% of forbearance borrowers go through with listing their home, it’s unlikely to cause a housing market crash. Why? Demand for homes simply outmatches supply. U.S. inventory is still 38% below pre-pandemic levels. And demographics coupled with low mortgage rates continue to push the market forward.

If the end of forbearance does lead to a spike in inventory, it would make the market a bit friendlier for buyers—a welcome change for anyone who has spent the past year house hunting in a sellers market.

More finance coverage from Fortune:

  • Got an IRS “math error” letter in the mail? Here’s what’s going on
  • This cannabis company’s mission to address social injustice attracted La La Anthony to invest
  • A shock is headed for the housing market
  • How 9/11 gave rise to a massive “Camo Economy”
  • This “financial astrologer” sees the future of Bitcoin—and says it could go to zero

Subscribe to Fortune Daily to get essential business stories straight to your inbox each morning.

About the Author
By Lance LambertFormer Real Estate Editor
Twitter icon

Lance Lambert is a former Fortune editor who contributes to the Fortune Analytics newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Lloyd Blankfein, former chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs
SuccessCareers
Former Goldman Sachs CEO: Ivy League geniuses aren’t always the most successful—This overlooked skill is key
By Emma BurleighApril 29, 2026
12 minutes ago
cobalt
EnvironmentData centers
The AI boom is built on the backs of the world’s poorest, most exploited people, UN researchers find
By Abraham Nunbogu, Kaveh Madani and The ConversationApril 29, 2026
2 hours ago
hollywood
CommentaryMarketing
I spent 20 years learning to navigate an industry. Then I built a campaign for the man who’s dismantling it
By Matti YahavApril 29, 2026
3 hours ago
Current price of Bitcoin for April 29, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for April 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 29, 2026
3 hours ago
Current price of Ethereum for April 29, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for April 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 29, 2026
3 hours ago
Top CD rates from major banks April 29, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on April 29, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerApril 29, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
2 days ago
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
AI
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
By Sasha RogelbergApril 28, 2026
1 day ago
‘Take the money and run’: Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke on why the UAE quit OPEC
Energy
‘Take the money and run’: Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke on why the UAE quit OPEC
By Shawn TullyApril 29, 2026
9 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 28, 2026
By Danny BakstApril 28, 2026
1 day ago
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
Politics
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
By Sasha RogelbergApril 24, 2026
5 days ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, April 28, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 28, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.