Boston and Seattle are playing for a trophy, and a home value boost might follow for the winner
Rhea-AI Summary
Zillow (Z) analysis finds the metro that wins the professional football championship has outpaced U.S. home value growth 13 of the past 20 years. On average, a typical home in the winning metro gained $4,437 more than the U.S. market in the subsequent year.
Largest outperformance examples: Tampa (2021) +$25,262 vs national average, Denver (2016) +$21,459, Boston (2017) +$15,565. Some winners underperformed, including New York (2008) -$15,741 versus the national change.
Positive
- None.
Negative
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Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Z slipped 0.81% with below-average volume, while key peer ZG fell 0.87%. Other content peers were mixed (e.g., NBIS +2.74%, BIDU -0.97%), suggesting stock-specific movement rather than a broad sector swing.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29 | Brand campaign launch | Positive | +0.3% | Launch of national 'Someday Starts Today' campaign across TV and digital. |
| Jan 26 | Market-ranking report | Positive | +2.3% | Release of rankings for 2026’s most buyer-friendly U.S. housing markets. |
| Jan 20 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | -1.5% | Announcement of Q4 and full-year 2025 results release and conference call. |
| Jan 15 | Affordability forecast | Positive | +0.5% | Forecast that typical mortgages may be affordable in 20 large metros by Dec 2026. |
| Jan 08 | Hot market ranking | Positive | +2.6% | Designation of Hartford as Zillow’s hottest U.S. housing market for 2026. |
Recent Zillow headlines focused on housing-market analytics and brand marketing have generally coincided with modestly positive next-day stock moves, suggesting investors react constructively to data-driven and positioning updates rather than showing large volatility around such news.
Over the past month, Zillow has highlighted several housing market insights and brand initiatives. On Jan 8, it named Hartford the hottest market for 2026, followed by a forecast on Jan 15 that typical mortgages could be affordable in 20 major metros by late 2026. A forthcoming Q4/FY 2025 earnings date was announced on Jan 20. Subsequent pieces showcased market rankings and a new national campaign. This championship-related home-value analysis continues Zillow’s role as a housing-data reference point.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement uses Zillow’s data capabilities to link professional football championships with subsequent metro home value trends, citing an average $4,437 extra gain and several notable outliers. It reinforces Zillow’s role as a housing analytics reference without signaling direct changes to its business model or finances. In context with recent market-heat rankings and affordability forecasts, investors may watch how consistently such data-driven content supports user engagement and brand strength over time.
Key Terms
zillow home value index financial
zestimate financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Zillow data shows championship markets usually beat national home value growth in the year after winning football's biggest game
- In 13 of the past 20 years, the metro area that won the professional football championship saw home values grow faster than the
U.S. average in the year that followed, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. - On average, the typical home in a championship market gained
more than the typical$4,437 U.S. home in the year after the win.
Over the past 20 years, home values in the metro area that wins the professional football championship have grown an average of
"While this is a fun trend, it's highly unlikely that a championship football team is the driving force causing home values to grow. A win on the field brings bragging rights, but unfortunately won't boost your Zestimate," said Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng. "Regardless of the outcome, the good news is that we are trending toward a healthier market nationwide, with more homes for sale and buyers better able to afford them."
Some markets really ran up the score. Homeowners in the
Not every champion followed up its trophy win with a real estate boom. In the
For home buyers looking for data and tools they can actually count on, the BuyAbilitySM tool from Zillow Home Loans gives buyers a personalized, real-time estimate of the home price and monthly payment that fit within their budget.
Metro Area | Year of Championship | Typical Home Value Growth in | Difference Compared to |
2006 | - | ||
2007 | |||
2008 | - | - | |
2009 | |||
2010 | - | ||
2011 | - | ||
2012 | - | ||
2013 | - | ||
2014 | |||
2015 | |||
2016 | |||
2017 | |||
2018 | - | ||
2019 | |||
2020 | - | ||
2021 | |||
2022 | - | ||
2023 | |||
2024 | |||
2025 |
*As of January 2026 |
About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.
As the most visited real estate app and website in
Zillow's ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.
Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans®, Zillow Rentals®, Zillow® New Construction, Trulia®, StreetEasy®, Out East®, HotPads®, Follow Up Boss®, ShowingTime®, dotloop® and Zillow® Closing.
All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.
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SOURCE Zillow