"Only 7 out of 200 largest markets return to pre-pandemic housing inventory levels amid seller strike"

Only seven out of the nation's 200 largest housing markets have returned to pre-pandemic inventory levels, as the surge in housing demand during the pandemic has not been matched by an increase in housing supply. The scarcity of "forced sellers" and the reluctance of move-up buyers to sell their homes due to higher mortgage rates have contributed to the low occurrence of foreclosures and a decline in new listings. The housing market's seller strike and the dearth of new listings pose challenges for the overall inventory count.