The number of options that you have today as a buyer (hint = not many) may be the most options you'll have at any given point between now and the end of the year. 

As shown above, inventory levels (the number of active listings in the MLS at the end-ish of each month) climbed through the first four months of the year, but seemed to peak in April and have been declining since that time.

Surprisingly, the inventory level at the end of July was lower (!!??) than in January and February!

Now, certainly, there will be some new listings over the next five months of this year -- so there will be some new inventory options -- but the total inventory available at any given point is not likely to increase again until next Spring.