Pandemic buyers, now today’s sellers, are feeling the pinch.
No one is saying buyers during the pandemic were wrong—it was the market at the time. Real Estate has always been a long-term game… but the pandemic flipped the script.
Buying with emotion, not strategy
Between 2020–2022, buyers rushed in at record speed—especially in places like Coastal Delaware. Choosing remote work, early retirements, and lifestyle shifts had people buying second homes or relocating to Delaware quickly.
And in that frenzy? A lot of normal “rules” went out the window.
Pandemic-era buyers have regrets.
Surveys show that between 56% and 86% of buyers that purchased during the pandemic have regrets.
Top Reasons:
*Rushed Decisions: Pressure to buy fast in a competitive market
*Major Compromises: Settled on location, size, or condition
*Hidden Costs: Underestimated repairs, taxes, and insurance
*Lifestyle Shifts: Return-to-office policies made some moves inconvenient
*No home inspection
Fast forward to today…
Some of those same buyers are now trying to sell—and running into a reality check. Prices didn’t keep skyrocketing forever, buyer demand has normalized, competition from new construction (with incentives) is real. Interest rates have skyrocketed and today’s buyers aren’t as forgiving.
Many pandemic buyers aren’t seeing the appreciation they expected—and some are barely breaking even once you factor in: Transfer tax (2% in Delaware), commissions and closing costs. Many sellers who purchased during the pandemic are feeling the squeeze when trying to sell.
Today’s buyers aren’t operating with that same urgency. They have more options, more leverage, and different expectations. Interest rates are twice as high as they were during and shortly after the pandemic. Buyers are looking for: Homes priced for today’s market, inspection contingencies and the ability to negotiate repairs and concessions to help offset higher interest rates.
Positive ways to look at the experience:
If you sold a home during the pandemic, you likely cleared more profit then if you sold now. Did you move from a state with higher taxes? Consider what you have saved on property and sales taxes. Also…Is the move necessary? Do you need to sell for a job transfer, moving closer to family, illness, house too small? What is your motivation? Just plain unhappy with your choice.
The Takeaway:
The rules didn’t just change for buyers—they changed for sellers too. Those sellers that understand are the ones who win in this market. It’s not about what you paid or what your neighbor got in 2021.
It’s about: How your home compares to what’s available right now, how it’s priced against current competition (especially new construction), and how flexible you’re willing to be to get it sold.
