If buying a home already feels stressful, Zillow says the pressure will be even higher in certain parts of the country this year. The real estate site has just come out with predictions for the hottest housing markets of 2026, and there’s a new city at the top of the list.
- Zillow has released its annual ranking of the hottest housing markets for 2026, analyzing the nation’s 50 largest metro areas.
- The rankings are based on home price growth, buyer competition, job growth relative to new housing construction and inventory levels.
- Up from fourth last year, Hartford, Connecticut, tops the list thanks to intense buyer competition, extremely limited inventory and strong price growth.
- More than two-thirds of homes in Hartford sold above asking price last year, and inventory there remains more than 60% below pre-pandemic levels.
- Buffalo, New York, which led Zillow’s list for two consecutive years, falls to second place in 2026.
Zillow’s Predictions for the Hottest Housing Markets of 2026
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Buffalo, New York
- New York, New York
- Providence, Rhode Island
- San Jose, California
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Los Angeles, California
- Richmond, Virginia
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin⠀
Source: Zillow
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