Press release
Hartford edges out Buffalo to become Zillow's hottest market for 2026
Competition among buyers will be hottest in the Northeast and Bay Area, where building has laggedThe New York metro area is third in Zillow's list of hottest
About this update from Zillow Group, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Competition among buyers will be hottest in the Northeast and Bay Area, where building has laggedThe New York metro area is third in Zillow's list of hottest markets for 2026, followed by Providence and San Jose to round out the top five. In these markets, Zillow expects price cuts to be rare, listings to move fast and strong price growth.Inventory is still 63% below pre-pandemic levels in Hartford, the largest deficit among the 50 largest U.S. metros by population. More than 66% of homes sold above list price in Hartford in 2025, leading all major metros. SEATTLE, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Competition for houses is set to be fiercest in Hartford this year, beating back-to-back leader Buffalo in Zillow's annual hottest markets forecast1. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nCommon among the Northeast and coastal California metros at the top of the list are few options for buyers to choose from. That spurred fast sales and home price growth in 2025 and should keep home values rising fast in 2026. \"Competition among buyers will be stiff and sellers will have the upper hand in this year's hottest markets. Shoppers will need to tap all the resources they can muster in these fast-moving markets, from their team of experts to tech aids to financial assistance, but successful buyers will quickly gain equity,\" said Zillow chief economist Mischa Fisher. \"In today's market affordability is all-important, but any improvements in 2026 will depend on location.\"Zillow's hottest market analysis ranks the nation's 50 most populous metros based on:Home price growth — both past and expected.2025 Zillow data on housing market competition: how quickly homes sold, how often sellers cut prices, and the share of homes that sold for over list price. Job growth per new home permitted.2Hartford ranked fourth on Zillow's 2025 predictions list, which called out a nation-leading appreciation forecast. That prediction proved prescient — home values grew faster in Hartford than in any other major metro last year, up 4.6%. The climb should continue in 2026; Hartford is forecast to lead price growth yet again this year, though at a slightly more relaxed pace of 3.9% annually. Buyers faced extreme pressure in Hartford last year, with a nation-high 66.4% of homes sold over asking price and the second-lowest share of homes with a price cut, at just 16.5%. Injections of i...