Sellers Are Firing Their Agents! Is This the Investor’s Window of Opportunity?
Sellers Are Firing Their Agents! Is This the Investor’s Window of Opportunity?
In today’s market, something unusual is happening in Maricopa County: sellers are firing their agents at an accelerating rate. The evidence is clear in the data.
Expired listings YTD (homes that failed to sell by the end of the listing agreement) jumped from 2,763 in July 2024 to 4,328 in July 2025—a 57% increase year over year.
Canceled listings (sellers who pulled their homes off the market early) rose from 10,386 in July 2024 to 13,933 in July 2025—a 34% increase year over year.
Even month-to-month in 2025, the trend is steady:
Expired listings: May (897), June (990), July (888).
Canceled listings: May (2,135), June (2,256), July (2,396).
That’s thousands of sellers who either lost faith in their agent or lost patience with the traditional sales process. The story these numbers tell is simple: agents are getting fired.
But here’s the bigger question: what does this mean for investors?
1. Motivated Sellers Emerge
When a listing expires or gets canceled, the seller’s frustration is real. They’ve already tried the conventional route and it didn’t work. Many still need to sell whether they’re relocating, downsizing, or facing financial pressure. These sellers are primed to listen to investors who can offer certainty, speed, and flexible options.
2. Discounted Deals on the Table
Homes that sit unsold are usually overpriced. Once the listing fails, sellers often reset their expectations. Investors can step in with below-retail offers that still solve the seller’s problem while creating built-in equity.
3. Creative Finance Solutions
Some sellers remain stuck on their asking price. But after a failed listing, they may be open to seller financing, subject-to, or wraparound structures tools that allow investors to meet the seller’s price on investor-friendly terms.
4. A Pipeline for Tomorrow
Not every expired or canceled listing will convert today. But these homeowners have already signaled they want to sell. Investors who follow up, nurture, and stay present can build a pipeline of deals that pays off months down the road.
The Takeaway
When you see spikes in expired and canceled listings, you’re not just looking at statistics you’re looking at thousands of homeowners who’ve effectively fired their agents and are still searching for solutions. For traditional real estate, that’s a setback. For investors, it’s an opening.
At AZREIA, we don’t just report on these trends we equip you with the strategies to turn them into real opportunities. Whether it’s negotiating discounted deals, structuring creative finance, or building tomorrow’s pipeline, our members are learning how to step in where others step out.
If you’re already part of our community, you know this is the time to sharpen your skills and act. If you’re not yet a member, this is your invitation to join Arizona’s largest network of real estate investors and learn how to thrive in a market that’s changing fast.
Happy Investing,
Michael Del Prete
Executive Director