Number of homes taken off market up locally, but area posts stronger numbers than rest of U.S.

A recent Home.com report states that homeowners are de-listing homes at a higher-than-normal rate nationally. According to the report: “Home de-listings in October were up 45.5% year to date and up nearly 38% from October 2024.”

Happily, the numbers nationally are not what we see locally. 

In WMLAR’s service area of Allegan, Muskegon and Ottawa counties, the numbers for the number of homes taken off the market (withdrawn, cancelled or expired) is up 16% when comparing Nov. 1-Dec. 8, 2024-25, according to an analysis of data in WMLAR’s MLS using RPR. 

• Allegan County: 40 homes taken off market in 2025, 32 in 2024, a 25% increase.
• Ottawa County: 83 taken off market in 2025, 72 in 2024, a 15.3% increase. 
• Muskegon County: 79 taken off market in 2025, 70 in 2024, a A 13% increase. 

Several things to consider here: 

1. The numbers of properties taken off the market are up, but you have to take into account there are more properties for sale now than in the past. According to the data in WMLAR’s MLS. For the three-county area, there were 7.6% more homes for sale at the end of November, 2025, (1,095) than there were  at the end of November, 2024, (1,018). More homes on the market translates into more homes statistically that could be pulled from the market.
2. The winter has gotten off to a harsh start. The snow machine last winter didn’t really get going in earnest until January of this year. Beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving this year, we’ve had consistent snow and cold. That may be prompting people to pull properties off market earlier than they did last winter. 
3. You always see properties pulled off the market this time of year, no matter the weather. Homeowners have too much going on during the holidays and in many cases don’t want to have people trooping through their properties. 

The report notes that the Grand Rapids metro area (of which Ottawa County is a part) is seeing strong price growth. It’s referred to as a “refuge” market, one where you can get more house for your money versus some other metro areas across the nation. 

According to the report: Price gains are much stronger in refuge markets, like Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they’re up 5.5% year over year and St. Louis where they’re up 5%. Cleveland, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh round out the top-performing refuge markets, according to the report. Prices in these markets are still 20%-30% lower than the national median.