All-cash sales now make up about 36% of the market, according to realtor.com.

Even during the usually slow holiday season, the housing market is hotter than ever this year.

Low supply and incredibly high, Covid-induced demand have made buyers beyond competitive and sellers particularly picky. As a result, all-cash deals, which sellers favor, are rising in certain regions and at certain price points.

All-cash sales now make up about 36% of the market, according to realtor.com. That is only a very slight rise overall from last year. Yet cash sales are climbing more dramatically in the Northeast and West, up 3 and 2 percentage points, respectively. It is happening despite the fact that mortgage rates have set record lows 14 times so far this year.

“This is likely a reflection of who’s buying,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com. “While investors (who are more likely to use cash) are active in the market, non-corporate buyers, likely owner-occupants are a bigger chunk of buyers in this period, and that affects the overall cash share.”

The highest share of all-cash sales is in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island, according to Redfin. Nearly half of sales there are all-cash. Then the next six top markets are all in Florida, including large cities like Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Atlanta and Tucson, Arizona, are also having a higher share of cash buyers.