All-Cash Buyers Remain a Powerful Force in Today’s Housing Market

Before the pandemic, all-cash buyers accounted for roughly 29% of U.S. home purchases. But as market conditions shifted, that number began to rise. Even with today’s slower housing activity, cash buyers still represent a major share of transactions — and they’re not backing down anytime soon.

According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, 32.8% of homebuyers in the first half of 2025 purchased their home entirely in cash. Danielle Hale, chief economist for the site, says this puts additional pressure on traditional buyers who rely on mortgage financing.

“High-wealth buyers, investors, and those with significant equity can move quickly and often win out in competitive situations,” Hale explains. “For traditional, mortgage-reliant buyers, this can add another hurdle in an already challenging environment.”

Cash buyers aren’t evenly distributed throughout the market, though. The analysis found that they’re most concentrated at the very top and bottom price brackets:

• Nearly two-thirds of homes priced under $100,000 sold to all-cash buyers

• About 50% of homes priced over $2 million went to cash buyers

That means mortgage-dependent buyers in the middle-price ranges may actually face less competition than headlines suggest — especially with the right approval strategy and strong lender guidance.