A report from the California used house salespeople. "Housing demand in California remained subdued for the ninth consecutive month in January as economic and market uncertainties sent home sales to their lowest level since April 2008, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today. January marked the ninth consecutive month of decline and the sixth month in a row that sales were below 400,000."

"'While we expected the federal government shutdown during most of January to temporarily interrupt closings because of a delay in loan approvals and income verifications, the impact on January’s home sales was minimal,' said C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. 'The decline in sales was more indicative of demand side issues and was broad and across all price categories and regions of the state. Moreover, growing inventory over the past few months has not translated into more sales.'"

"Statewide active listings rose for the 10th consecutive month after nearly three straight years of declines, increasing 27 percent from the previous year. All major regions recorded an increase in active listings, with the Bay Area posting the highest increase at 57 percent, followed by Southern California (29.7 percent), Central Valley (19.5 percent) and the Central Coast (14.5 percent)."

From The Signal in California. "Realtors throughout Santa Clarita helped close escrows during 2018 on 2,247 single-family homes and 988 condominiums, both lower totals compared to the prior year, as rising prices limited the pool of qualified buyers even as those buyers who stayed in the market gained added negotiating leverage, the Southland Regional Association of Realtors reported."

"2019 will see more of the same, but buyers now have way more negotiating power. While still early in the process with the housing shortage still providing sellers an edge, the market is giving buyers some advantages, especially as houses sit longer on the market, inventory grows slightly and more active listings report price reductions."

"I agree with Tim Johnson, the association’s chief executive officer, that prices have risen so high, so fast that too many prospective buyers were left behind. 'We’ve hit a point where there may be downward pressure on prices,' Johnson said, 'as the market shifts to the middle in an effort to regain buyers who have been priced out.'"

The Orlando Sentinel in Florida. "Shaquille O’Neal has a deal for you on his massive mansion in the exclusive southwest Orange County community of Isleworth. The NBA legend has cut the asking price of the 31,000-square-foot lakeside estate to just $21.9 million."

"O’Neal put the property at 9927 Giffin Court for sale in May for $28 million. He also hired a new broker, The Agency Collective, who took over for Premier Sotheby's International Realty. 'We dropped it from $28 million to $21.9 million to show a significant decrease and to show that he is a serious seller and not just put it up there for vanity,' said Chris Franciosa, managing partner for the South Florida-based real estate firm."

"O’Neal bought the home for $3.95 million in November 1993. The home was expanded several times with luxurious upgrades such as a cigar bar and humidor, a 17-car garage and a two-story great room."

From Arlington Now in Virginia. "'Why would I care that a property is reduced by $3,000?' Here are the reasons why you should keep your eye on these reduced properties, whether their prices ticked down by $3,000 or $500,000."

"These reductions may only be the beginning. A proactive reduction of $3,000 by the seller may eventually segue into a negotiation that saves you thousands more. A reduction may show the seller’s urgency. Each seller’s situation is unique. They may need to sell by a certain date and a price reduction is small hint to get you enticed (and negotiating even further)."

"It may signify a price correction. Yes, some listings are truly overpriced, and this is a way of the seller and their team coming back to reality."

"As of February 18, there are 116 detached homes, 10 townhouses and 85 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 10 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week."

From Curbed Hamptons in New York. "Built in 2009, an 11,000-square-foot mansion in north-of-the-highway Water Mill that’s been on the market since July of 2017 has just cut $2 million from its asking price."

"When the 6.5-acre property listed for sale, it was asking $12.6 million, but after a year that price fell down to $9.9 million. Earlier this week, the most recent price cut brought the nine-bedroom, 10-bath estate down to $7.9 million under Saunders real estate agent Hans von Schirach. The house last sold in 2013 for $6 million."