Realtor.com® Reveals the Top Housing Markets for 2026
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E-mail- Affordability, lower mortgage rate lock-in and stronger buyer profiles propel Northeast and Midwest metros to lead in annual rankings
Hartford, Conn. ;Rochester, N.Y. ; andWorcester, Mass. , take the top spots
Amid expectations for cooling national price growth and modest mortgage rate relief, buyers are increasingly focused on value. As a result, "refuge markets" are attracting shoppers from larger, high-cost metros seeking relative affordability, more space for the price and greater market stability. The top 10 markets for 2026, in rank order, are: 1) Hartford-
"We expect a more balanced housing market in 2026, leaning slightly in buyers' favor compared with 2025, as modest improvements in affordability, driven by mortgage rate relief and slower home price growth, give incomes a bit more room to catch up," said
Affordable homes and out-of-state buyers drive market interest
The 2026 top markets share several characteristics – relatively affordable homes, limited new construction, lower mortgage lock-in pressure, and older, financially well-qualified households – but their unifying advantage is strong value for buyers. The median list price across the top 10 is
Out-of-state interest is pronounced in the top 10. In Q3 2025, 40% of listing views in the top markets came from buyers outside the metro, with each drawing heavily from a major hub such as
Tight inventory and scarce new construction push prices higher
Inventory remains tight in the top metros, with several markets –
All but one of the top metros are in regions with relatively little new construction. Nine of the top 10 have a smaller share of new-construction listings than the national average (
Low mortgage lock-in and strong buyer profiles support market resilience
Mortgage dynamics gives several of the 2026 top markets a built-in advantage with lower "lock-in" pressure. In the most affordable metros – Rochester, N.Y;
Mortgage data also shows buyers in the top 10 markets are better positioned: 742 FICO vs. 737 nationally, 15.7% down vs. 14.6%, and 74% of loans conforming vs. 58% nationally. This combination of stronger credit, more equity and lower-risk loan types makes these markets more resilient and positions them for some of the fastest combined price and sales growth in 2026.
Mature, stable households and older, smaller homes help sustain prices
Residents in the top markets are older than the national average, with median ages mostly in the mid-50s.
Housing stock in these markets is also older (the national median year built is 1981).
2026 Housing Forecast – 100 Largest | ||||
(Ranked by expected combined sale and price growth rates) | ||||
Rank | Metro | 2026 Existing Home | 2026 Existing Home | Combined 2026 |
1 | 7.6 % | 9.5 % | 17.1 % | |
2 | 5.3 % | 10.3 % | 15.5 % | |
3 | 12.6 % | 2.4 % | 15.0 % | |
4 | -1.2 % | 13.1 % | 11.9 % | |
5 | 7.1 % | 4.1 % | 11.2 % | |
6 | 3.6 % | 6.9 % | 10.6 % | |
7 | 6.9 % | 3.7 % | 10.6 % | |
8 | 3.5 % | 7.0 % | 10.5 % | |
9 | 2.3 % | 7.7 % | 10.0 % | |
10 | 4.0 % | 5.7 % | 9.7 % | |
11 | 7.1 % | 2.2 % | 9.3 % | |
12 | 4.7 % | 4.6 % | 9.3 % | |
13 | 5.1 % | 3.5 % | 8.6 % | |
14 | 3.9 % | 4.6 % | 8.6 % | |
15 | 1.0 % | 6.9 % | 8.0 % | |
16 | 3.3 % | 4.6 % | 7.9 % | |
17 | -0.2 % | 7.7 % | 7.5 % | |
18 | 0.3 % | 7.2 % | 7.5 % | |
19 | 4.7 % | 2.6 % | 7.3 % | |
20 | 1.7 % | 5.4 % | 7.1 % | |
21 | 0.5 % | 6.3 % | 6.8 % | |
22 | -5.7 % | 12.4 % | 6.7 % | |
23 | 0.0 % | 6.2 % | 6.2 % | |
24 | 1.8 % | 4.3 % | 6.1 % | |
25 | 0.4 % | 5.6 % | 6.0 % | |
26 | 4.2 % | 1.7 % | 5.8 % | |
27 | -2.6 % | 8.3 % | 5.7 % | |
28 | 0.6 % | 5.1 % | 5.6 % | |
29 | 2.2 % | 3.1 % | 5.3 % | |
30 | 1.0 % | 4.0 % | 5.0 % | |
31 | 3.8 % | 1.2 % | 5.0 % | |
32 | 2.3 % | 2.6 % | 5.0 % | |
33 | 2.7 % | 2.2 % | 5.0 % | |
34 | -1.3 % | 6.3 % | 4.9 % | |
35 | 2.1 % | 2.8 % | 4.9 % | |
36 | 8.1 % | -3.5 % | 4.7 % | |
37 | -6.2 % | 10.9 % | 4.6 % | |
38 | 2.2 % | 2.3 % | 4.6 % | |
39 | -2.0 % | 6.3 % | 4.3 % | |
40 | -0.4 % | 4.6 % | 4.2 % | |
41 | 1.0 % | 2.9 % | 3.9 % | |
42 | 4.2 % | -0.4 % | 3.8 % | |
43 | -1.3 % | 5.1 % | 3.8 % | |
44 | 1.8 % | 1.8 % | 3.6 % | |
45 | 2.5 % | 0.9 % | 3.4 % | |
46 | -4.1 % | 7.5 % | 3.4 % | |
47 | 2.3 % | 0.7 % | 3.0 % | |
48 | -1.2 % | 4.2 % | 3.0 % | |
49 | -3.6 % | 6.6 % | 3.0 % | |
50 | 3.7 % | -0.8 % | 2.9 % | |
51 | 3.1 % | -0.4 % | 2.7 % | |
52 | 4.9 % | -2.3 % | 2.6 % | |
53 | -2.3 % | 4.4 % | 2.1 % | |
54 | -2.1 % | 4.0 % | 1.9 % | |
55 | -0.2 % | 1.9 % | 1.7 % | |
56 | -4.4 % | 5.8 % | 1.4 % | |
57 | 1.5 % | -0.2 % | 1.3 % | |
58 | -4.4 % | 5.2 % | 0.8 % | |
59 | 0.0 % | 0.7 % | 0.7 % | |
60 | 0.4 % | 0.2 % | 0.6 % | |
61 | 1.6 % | -1.0 % | 0.6 % | |
62 | -5.1 % | 5.7 % | 0.6 % | |
63 | -6.4 % | 6.6 % | 0.2 % | |
64 | -1.4 % | 1.5 % | 0.1 % | |
65 | -3.2 % | 3.1 % | 0.0 % | |
66 | 2.5 % | -2.5 % | -0.1 % | |
67 | -3.2 % | 3.1 % | -0.1 % | |
68 | -0.6 % | 0.4 % | -0.2 % | |
69 | -4.3 % | 3.5 % | -0.8 % | |
70 | -2.4 % | 1.1 % | -1.3 % | |
71 | -2.5 % | 0.6 % | -1.8 % | |
72 | 1.5 % | -3.3 % | -1.9 % | |
73 | -1.5 % | -0.5 % | -2.0 % | |
74 | -2.5 % | 0.2 % | -2.3 % | |
75 | -6.4 % | 3.9 % | -2.5 % | |
76 | -3.5 % | 0.5 % | -3.0 % | |
77 | -4.9 % | 1.3 % | -3.6 % | |
78 | -5.4 % | 1.8 % | -3.6 % | |
79 | -3.5 % | -0.1 % | -3.7 % | |
80 | -0.5 % | -3.6 % | -4.1 % | |
81 | -7.0 % | 2.8 % | -4.2 % | |
82 | -7.6 % | 3.3 % | -4.3 % | |
83 | -4.2 % | -0.4 % | -4.6 % | |
84 | -6.1 % | 1.1 % | -5.0 % | |
85 | -7.0 % | 2.0 % | -5.0 % | |
86 | -8.1 % | 3.1 % | -5.0 % | |
87 | -4.7 % | -0.9 % | -5.7 % | |
88 | -7.1 % | 1.1 % | -6.0 % | |
89 | -7.7 % | 1.8 % | -6.0 % | |
90 | -4.7 % | -1.6 % | -6.3 % | |
91 | -2.9 % | -3.4 % | -6.3 % | |
92 | -10.9 % | 4.4 % | -6.5 % | |
93 | -3.1 % | -3.6 % | -6.8 % | |
94 | -13.6 % | 5.9 % | -7.7 % | |
95 | -4.4 % | -3.7 % | -8.1 % | |
96 | 0.8 % | -8.9 % | -8.1 % | |
97 | -6.9 % | -1.4 % | -8.3 % | |
98 | -5.7 % | -4.1 % | -9.8 % | |
99 | -10.8 % | 0.7 % | -10.1 % | |
100 | -0.8 % | -10.2 % | -11.0 % | |
Methodology
The Realtor.com® model-based forecast uses data on the housing market and overall economy to estimate 2026 values for these variables for the 100 largest
About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/realtorcom-reveals-the-top-housing-markets-for-2026-302637142.html
SOURCE Realtor.com
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