It's a homebuyer's market — if you can afford one

It's a buyer's market in real estate — if you can afford it: There are nearly 500,000 more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market, Redfin estimates.

Why it matters: That's the widest gap on record — and a big reversal from just a few years ago, when home buyers were desperate to find a place to live, sending prices into the stratosphere.

By the numbers: There are 33.7% more sellers than buyers now. At no other point since Redfin began tracking in 2013 have sellers outnumbered buyers by this large a percentage.