In a cooling market, what is a common characteristic of inventory levels?

In a cooling market, inventory levels typically increase. This phenomenon occurs as demand for properties begins to slow down, causing listings to accumulate without an equivalent sales velocity. Sellers may become more motivated to list their properties, anticipating lower prices in the future, leading to a surge in available properties on the market. This build-up in inventory reflects the imbalance between supply and demand, with a higher number of homes for sale relative to the number of buyers actively purchasing.

In contrast, under stable, decreasing, or fluctuating inventory levels, you would see different market dynamics. A stable inventory would indicate a consistent balance between supply and demand, while a significant decrease in inventory would suggest rising demand. Fluctuating inventory could signal erratic buyer behavior, but it does not typically characterize a cooling market. Thus, the increase in inventory is the primary characteristic that aligns with conditions in a cooling market.