The Expired Listing Surge Agents Can’t Ignore in 2026

More than 78,000 homes exit the MLS without selling every single week in a phenomenon REDX is referring to as the Expired Listing Surge of 2026.

As of April 2026, REDX’s national tracking of MLS expirations across all 50 states shows that expired listings have grown by 83% in the past two years. It is the clearest signal of where the most motivated sellers in the country are right now.

Redfin reported in February 2026 that 52.2% of all active listings had been sitting unsold for 60 days or more, representing $347 billion in stale inventory. That’s the symptom. The 78,395 listings that expire weekly without selling is the confirmed diagnosis underneath that headline number.

If you’ve been prospecting expired listings, the opportunity has never been bigger. In this post, we’re going to highlight everything you need to know about the expired listing surge, and catch you up on how to respond.

Key Takeaways

• More than 78,000 listings expire off the MLS every single week without selling → up 83% from two years ago, according to REDX’s national MLS tracking
• About 44.6% of expired sellers relist within 30–35 days, almost always with a new agent → that’s your window
• Texas saw a 155% surge in expired listings since May 2024; Nebraska leads all states with a 67–70% relist rate
• Agents working expired listings are sitting in front of the fastest-growing pool of motivated sellers in the country right now

How Big Is the Expired Listing Surge?

The scale of the shift is significant. In May 2024, REDX tracked 42,712 expired listings nationwide in a single week. By April 2026, that number climbed to 78,395, a jump of 83% in under two years.

The surge isn’t isolated to one market or region. Expired listing volume is up across the country, driven by overpriced listings, buyer hesitation, and a market where even well-located homes sit longer than sellers expected.

Foreclosure activity is rising in the same window. REDX data shows foreclosure leads up 55% (from 8,072 per week in May 2024 to 12,523 in April 2026). FRBO leads are up 32% over the same period. The pattern is consistent across lead categories: seller stress is rising. 

What Happens to a Listing After It Expires?

After a seller fails to sell, they regroup. According to REDX’s national MLS tracking, about 44.6% of expired sellers relist within 30–35 days. When they do, they almost always come back with a new agent. The seller who just watched their listing expire is highly motivated, often frustrated with their previous experience, and actively looking for someone who can close the deal they couldn’t.

The roughly 55% who don’t relist right away aren’t gone permanently. Some will resurface months later when conditions shift or urgency increases. A database of contacted expired sellers is an asset that compounds over time because every contact you make today is a future pipeline entry.

Which States Are Seeing the Biggest Shifts?

The national numbers are striking, but the geographic variation reveals where the sharpest opportunities are concentrating right now.

Texas: +155% Surge

Texas experienced the most dramatic surge of any major state. Weekly expired listings went from 5,348 in May 2024 to 13,648 by April 2026 (a 155% increase). The scale suggests widespread pricing misalignment: sellers came in expecting 2021 peak prices, and the market has repeatedly said otherwise.

Florida and California

Florida jumped from 7,520 to 13,549 expired listings per week (80% surge). California saw a 66% increase over the same period. Both are markets where the volume of new expired listing opportunities is compounding every single week.

Nebraska: The Fastest-Cycling Market in the Country

Nebraska leads all states in relist efficiency. Between 67–70% of Nebraska expired listings relist, and they do it in just 14–17 days on average (less than half the national median). Minnesota (60–61% relist rate) and Illinois (57–59%) round out the top tier of fastest-cycling markets.

For agents working those markets, this has a direct implication: if you’re in Nebraska and you’re not calling expired listings the day they hit, you’re missing out on a big opportunity.

How Should Agents Respond to This Surge?

The expired listing wave represents the largest and fastest-growing pool of motivated sellers in the country right now. These sellers share a clear profile: they wanted to sell, they couldn’t, and they’re ready to try again with someone who knows how to get it done.

A practical four-step response framework:

1. Call the same day listings expire. The 30–35 day median relist window is short. Agents who win listings in this environment make contact first.
2. Lead with data, not a pitch. Telling a seller that 44.6% of expired listings relist within a month (and that the median time to relist is just 30 days) reframes the conversation from condolence to next steps.
3. Build a tracked database of contacted sellers. The 55% who don’t relist immediately are on delay, not deleted. Tag them and follow up on a 30-day cycle.
4. Prioritize high-surge markets. If you’re in Texas, Florida, or California, the volume of new opportunities is growing every week. Consistency in those markets compounds.

Your Expired Listing Action Checklist for Spring 2026

The data doesn’t change what good expired listing prospecting looks like in practice. But it does change the scale at which you need to be doing it.

Use this checklist to assess where you stand:

• Are you pulling expired listings every day, including same-day expirations?
• Do you have a script that opens with data, not just empathy?
• Is every expired seller you’ve contacted logged in a trackable system?
• Have you identified the highest-volume expired markets in your state or region?
• Are you following up with non-relist contacts on a 30-day cycle?

If any of those are “no,” the 83% surge means the cost of inaction is higher this spring than it was last year. The sellers are there. The question is whether you’re the agent they hear from first.

For agents looking to sharpen their approach before making calls, reviewing your expired listing scripts is a strong starting point.

If you’re looking to avoid pulling expired listings every day, and have fresh expired listings delivered daily, check out REDX Expired Leads.