High Demand, Low Inventory: Merrick’s Real Estate Dilemma This Year

If you’ve been house hunting in Merrick lately, you already know the story: listings vanish faster than bagels on a Sunday morning. Welcome to 2025, where demand is sky-high, inventory is lower than your patience, and the definition of a "deal" is basically "it didn’t go $200K over asking and still came with a driveway."

Buyers Are Battling It Out

In Merrick, demand is being fueled by all the hits—top-tier schools, manicured lawns, charming Cape Cods, and proximity to the city without actually being in the city (which, let’s be honest, is the dream). But here’s the problem: listings are down 14% compared to last year. Homes that do hit the market are scooped up in days, sometimes hours, and almost always after sparking full-blown bidding wars. Some buyers are resorting to handwritten letters, bribes of Mets tickets, or just pure desperation. The competition is real—and brutal.

Prices Keep Climbing

Despite mortgage rates floating around 6.8%, Merrick’s median home price has climbed past $795K. Why? Because scarcity drives panic, and panic writes big checks. Even fixer-uppers with avocado green tile from 1972 are commanding top dollar. Buyers are afraid prices will keep climbing, so they jump in before the next hike. Add that to a historically low inventory and suddenly, that slightly leaning ranch looks like a great investment.

Sellers Have the Leverage

In this market, Merrick sellers are sipping coffee while their inbox floods with offers. No upgrades? No problem. That 80s wallpaper? Vintage chic. But ironically, some are too scared to sell because they have no idea where they’ll move next. Welcome to the homeowner paradox: Sell high, buy higher. It’s like musical chairs but with 30-year mortgages and emotional breakdowns.

What Buyers Can Do

Pre-approval isn’t optional—it’s survival. And not that generic "pre-qualified" email from your bank—get the real deal from a lender ready to roll. Pair that with a local agent who’s connected enough to hear about listings before they hit the internet. Consider neighboring areas or give a little on your “must-have” list. Spoiler: the perfect house doesn’t exist, especially not under budget. Be strategic, be fast, and don’t take it personally when your third offer loses to a cash buyer from Manhattan.

Merrick Mayhem? Let’s Make It Work for You.

Whether you’re thinking of selling high or buying smart, you need more than just Zillow alerts—you need strategy, speed, and someone who actually knows what’s going on behind the scenes.

I’m Dean Miller, Long Island’s only AI-certified real estate agent, and I help clients navigate the wild ride of low inventory and high demand with clear insights, smarter tools, and a little humor to keep it all sane.

👉 Ready to win the bidding war—or skip it entirely with off-market opportunities?
👉 Curious if it’s finally time to cash in that equity and move on up (or out)?

Let’s talk Merrick moves that make sense—before another "meh" listing sells for $100K over asking.
📲 Text, call, or DM me today. Let’s do this the smart way.