Best deals don’t show up on the MLS. You must uncover and discover them. The real question is, where should you be looking for deals right now?
The March distressed seller data report cuts through the noise. Using current data, we reveal counties where investors are most likely to find discounted, off-market deals. These locations show strong signals of distress, and the sellers in these markets may be open to fast and flexible solutions.
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Maricopa County is going through expectation-driven distress. Supply has outpaced demand, with more than 20,000 listings available as of February 2026. The absorption of inventory has weakened. People are still buying homes but given the supply, prices must come down. Median days on the market are almost double compared to last year and more than 66% of homes are selling below the listing price. The average home price in Maricopa county is down by 2.3%.
The situation is clear. Homes are spending more time on the market and prices are low with fierce competition from other sellers. In this situation, homeowners are pressured to seek alternative, cash options rather than a retail transaction.
Homeowners in Wayne County are finding reasons to sell because of pricing friction and liquidity issues. Properties take longer to sell, which means you have to take care of mortgage and insurance payments for extended durations. Home prices in the Detroit metro area are down by 10.1%. In Detroit, a home takes 68-74 days to sell. These circumstances force homeowners to lower prices without a definite end in sight. Real estate investors can connect with homeowners in these areas and help them achieve a quick cash sale.
Nationwide homes are taking longer to sell and Cook County is no exception. In 2024, homes used to sell within 30 days. Now the number has doubled to 60-70 days on average. That means sellers have to absorb holding expenses for an additional 2-3 months. After that, homeowners reduce prices to attract potential buyers, which doesn’t happen easily.
The number of sales has dropped by 7.8% in February. Realtor.com’s Illinois market snapshot shows listings are up by 2.3% year-over-year, but this figure is based on rolling state-level data rather than the standardized monthly research report.
The mismatch between supply and demand creates an unfavorable environment for sellers who are facing economic pressure.
Polk County in Florida is quickly becoming a buyer’s market with reduced transaction volume and high inventory.
In February, only 872 homes were sold, which is a 16.9% negative change compared to last year. Overall home prices are down by 3.2%, as reported by redfin with the total supply being 12,900 properties. According to Zillow, 65% of homes are selling below the listing price.
On the same note, homes are spending fewer days on the market (68 vs. 73 from last year).
The leverage is shifting towards buyers in Broward county. This is evident by rising inventory, which peaked in early 2025 and has not dropped yet. There are around 18,640 properties available for sale in Broward, FL.
On average, a home spends 100 days on the market before the deal is finally closed. The time constraint and competition from other sellers force homeowners to seek an exit strategy through a cash sale. Increased DOM also indicated additional holding expenses, including high insurance costs in Florida. In certain zip codes, home prices are being corrected sharply to attract buyers.
Home prices in Houston have fallen to the lowest point in the last two years. Coupled with low mortgage rates, this new scenario could mean housing affordability for buyers but here is a twist for investors. Homes are spending a long time on the market.
According to realtor.com, more than 29,000 properties are available for sale in Harris County. Reflecting the increase in inventory, home prices have gone down by 2.99%.
Harris County is not clearly a distressed market but economic pressure along with competition from other sellers creates a stressful situation for homeowners.
Bexar County is reflecting the atmosphere of Texas real estate. The inventory is slowly rising, which is expected before the spring season but the inventory is not getting absorbed quickly. It takes 3+ months to sell a house in Bexar County, which is a major stress factor for motivated sellers. On average, a home spends 102 days before the deal is closed.
The average home value has gone down and 65% of homes are being sold below the listing price. That means opportunities are available if you are marketing to the right segment.
Pinellas is now a buyer’s market, forcing sellers to reduce prices. The inventory stands at 8,600 as of February 2026. Since inventory is not an issue, properties are taking longer to sell. You can expect a sale to take at least 2-3 months with competitive pricing. Motivated seller leads coming from Pinellas are homeowners sensing this competitive market along with other stressors of life.
Since we started researching data, Philadelphia has made it to the top 10 list of hottest counties for investors for the first time. Homeowners in Philadelphia are not underwater but the market situation can be a source of distress for some. The prices are rising steadily along with inventory but the transaction volume has gone down.
There have been 8.9% fewer homes sold in February in Philadelphia county. The total home supply stands at 4,600. According to Zillow, more than 50% of properties sell below the asking price, which is something to think about.
Zillow data shows more than 15,000 properties available for sale in Los Angeles county. The inventory is slowly increasing. It’s still low compared to other counties in our list but meaningfully higher than post-pandemic levels. Los Angeles county is not affordable so a slight rise in inventory creates pressure for sellers. We can see that the transaction volume is down but it might pick up in the spring season.
Buyers clearly have leverage in Hillsborough. Inventory has normalized and we are seeing an upward trend in supply. There are 7,100 listings available for sale in Hillsborough. Average home value in this county is down by 3.9%, which signals pressure. Home prices must be adjusted accordingly. The supply of rental properties has also increased in the county, which means excess sellers cannot easily convert their properties into rentals. An average home spends 62 days on the market (52 days last year). Combined, these signals push homeowners toward seeking alternative options.
The March data report also shows the top 11 locations where our investors are most active:
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