Metros Where Home Sales Are Falling Through

Last year, 7.1% of deals fell through, but in some housing markets, that figure is much higher
Feb. 7, 2026
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Atlanta skyline

In Atlanta, 10.3% of home deals fell through in December 2025. 

Prohibitive costs have caused a number of home sales to fall through across the U.S. Last year, 7.1% of homes fell out of contract and were returned to the market. However, a recent report from Realtor.com shows some areas are seeing more cancellations than others.

Deals may fall apart due to financing issues, appraisal gaps, inspection findings, or buyer hesitation as costs change. In a higher-rate environment, even small shifts in mortgage rates, insurance costs, or repair estimates can cause buyers to walk. Longer days on market also give buyers more leverage, and more time to reconsider.

- Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com

Which metros saw the most cancellations in 2025?

The metro that had the most pending-sale cancellations was Atlanta. In this metro, 10.3% of deals fell through, followed by the Las Vegas metro, where 10.1% of pending deals fell through. San Antonio saw 9.6% of deals fall through, while the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., metro saw 9.3% of pending deals get cancelled. Additionally, in the Phoenix metro, 9.2% of pending sales were cancelled.

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