Realtor.com® Reveals the Top Housing Markets for 2026
Realtor.com (NYSE:NWS) released its annual Top Housing Markets for 2026, ranking metros by forecasted combined home price and sales growth.
Rhea-AI Summary
Realtor.com (NYSE:NWS) released its annual Top Housing Markets for 2026, ranking metros by forecasted combined home price and sales growth. Hartford, Rochester, and Worcester top the list. The top 10 median list price is $384,000 versus a national median of $415,000, and the top metros show average list price growth of +16.3% compared with national flatness (-0.2%).
Realtor.com cites tight inventory (some metros >60% below pre-pandemic levels), limited new construction, lower mortgage lock-in, stronger buyer profiles (median FICO 742), and older, smaller housing stock as drivers of 2026 strength.
Positive
- Top metros average 16.3% list price growth vs national -0.2%
- $384,000 median list price across top 10, below national $415,000
- Hartford forecasted combined growth 17.1% for 2026
- Buyers in top metros show median FICO 742 vs 737 nationally
Negative
- Inventory in several top metros is >60% below pre-pandemic levels
- Housing stock is older: Pittsburgh median year built 1960
- Homes in many top metros are smaller than national median (1,834 sq ft)
Details
News Market Reaction – NWS
In the Dec 10 session, NWS gained 0.27%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
- Top-10 median list price
- $384,000
- Median list price across top 10 2026 markets vs national median
- National median list price
- $415,000
- National median list price benchmark used in report
- Refuge metros price change
- 16.3%
- Average list price gain in refuge metros since 2022
- Toledo price change
- 33.4%
- List price growth in Toledo, Ohio since 2022
- National list price change
- -0.2%
- National list price move vs 2022
- Top-10 external views
- 40%
- Q3 2025 share of listing views from outside top metros
- Buyer FICO score
- 742 vs 737
- Average FICO in top 10 markets vs national buyers
- Down payment share
- 15.7% vs 14.6%
- Average down payment in top 10 markets vs national
Historical Context
-
Monthly housing data on affordability, delistings and refuge market trends.
-
National 2026 outlook for mortgage rates, sales, prices and rents.
-
Report on narrowing new-construction price premium and financing terms.
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Update on diverging trends across high-end metro luxury markets.
-
Survey-based findings on buyer remorse and slower market conditions.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
median list price financial
mortgage rate financial
fico financial
conforming financial
metropolitan statistical areas technical
year-over-year financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- 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)
"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 Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com®. "Our 2026 top housing markets offer better value than nearby high-cost hubs, yet steady demand and persistent inventory shortages keep prices moving upward. For buyers, that can mean more competition and faster price gains. For sellers and homeowners, it signals strong demand or home price appreciation and equity gains."
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,
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,
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.
Media contact: Sara Wiskerchen, press@realtor.com
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/realtorcom-reveals-the-top-housing-markets-for-2026-302637142.html
SOURCE Realtor.com
FAQ
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