Gone in 7 days: One-third of homes sell within a week in the fastest markets, while others sit

Rhea-AI Summary

Z (Zillow) analysis shows the U.S. housing market running on two tracks: highly desirable homes sell very quickly while other listings linger. Nationally, 18.5% of homes went pending within seven days (Feb 2026) and 44.3% of those sold above list, versus 17.1% for all homes. In March 2026, the typical sold home went pending in 19 days while the median active listing age was 56 days.

Positive

• 18.5% of U.S. homes went pending within seven days (Feb 2026)
• 44.3% of fast-selling homes sold above list (Feb 2026)
• Typical sold home went pending in 19 days (March 2026)
• St. Louis: 36.4% of homes sold within seven days (Feb 2026)
• Seattle: 34.7% of homes sold within seven days (Feb 2026)

Negative

• Median active listing age 56 days (March 2026)
• Gap between sold and active listings: 37 days (March 2026)
• Austin: only 2.7% of homes sold within seven days (Feb 2026)
• Miami median active listing age 104 days (March 2026)

News Market Reaction – ZG

-3.39%

-3.39% Session close to close

In the Apr 23 session, ZG declined 3.39%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement underscores a split housing market, where about 18.5% of U.S. homes go pending wit...

Analysis

This announcement underscores a split housing market, where about 18.5% of U.S. homes go pending within seven days and a large share of those sell above list, while many listings linger for a median of 56 days. For Zillow, such analyses reinforce its positioning as a data and insights provider, complementing products like Zillow Preview. Recent news has focused on renter trends, buyer behavior, and agent tools; investors may watch how these insights drive traffic, engagement, and, ultimately, transaction-related revenue in upcoming results.

Key Figures

Homes pending ≤7 days: 18.5% Fast homes above list: 44.3% All homes above list: 17.1% +5 more

8 metrics

Homes pending ≤7 days 18.5% National share of homes pending within seven days in February 2026

Fast homes above list 44.3% Share of ≤7-day sales that closed above list in February 2026

All homes above list 17.1% Share of all U.S. homes sold above list in February 2026

Typical days to pending 19 days Typical sold home time to pending in March 2026

Median active listing age 56 days Median age of all active listings in March 2026

Gap in days 37 days Difference between sold time-to-pending and active listing age, March 2026

St. Louis fast sales 36.4% Share of homes sold within seven days in St. Louis, February 2026

Seattle fast sales 34.7% Share of homes sold within seven days in Seattle, February 2026

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 21 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Apr 21	Rental market data	Neutral	-2.7%	Update on slowing rent growth and increased renter financial relief.
Apr 16	Product engagement data	Positive	+1.1%	Launch of Zillow Buzz Index highlighting features boosting buyer engagement.
Apr 14	Buyer behavior study	Neutral	+0.9%	Analysis of “dual shoppers” comparing for-sale and rental options.
Apr 10	Platform adoption news	Positive	-1.8%	More brokerages joining Zillow Preview to expand pre-market exposure.
Apr 7	Earnings date set	Neutral	+1.6%	Scheduling and webcast details for Q1 2026 earnings release.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent Zillow data- and product-focused releases have mostly seen modest price moves, with one notable divergence on a seemingly positive product update.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, Zillow has released several data-driven and product news items. On Apr 21, it highlighted slowing rent growth and renter savings, with shares down 2.66%. Earlier, the Zillow Buzz Index launch on Apr 16 and the “dual shopper” analysis on Apr 14 saw modest gains of 1.10% and 0.91%. News on brokerages adopting Zillow Preview on Apr 10 coincided with a 1.75% decline. The May 6 earnings-date announcement on Apr 7 aligned with a 1.56% rise. Today’s housing-market split narrative continues this pattern of analytics-focused releases.

Key Terms

pending, median, bidding war, pre-approved

4 terms

pending financial

"Nationally, 18.5% of homes went pending within seven days in February 2026"

Pending means an action, decision, filing or transaction has been initiated but is not yet finalized or approved. For investors, “pending” signals uncertainty about timing and outcome—like a package that’s shipped but not delivered—so the final result could change a company’s financial picture, risk profile or stock price once the matter is resolved.

median technical

"the median age of all active listings was 56 days"

The median is the middle value in a ranked list of numbers so that half the values are higher and half are lower; if there’s an even number of items, it’s the average of the two middle values. For investors it provides a more reliable sense of a “typical” outcome than an average because a single very large or very small number won’t skew it, making it useful for judging typical prices, returns, or costs.

bidding war financial

"making homes that sold within a week 2.6 times more likely to have attracted a bidding war"

A bidding war occurs when two or more potential buyers compete to acquire the same company, asset, or piece of property by repeatedly offering higher prices. Like an auction where bidders keep raising their offers, it can drive the purchase price well above initial expectations, signaling strong demand but also increasing the risk that the buyer pays a steep premium; investors watch bidding wars because they affect valuations, expected returns, and deal certainty.

pre-approved financial

"get pre-approved and be ready to move the moment a home goes live"

Pre-approved means an authorization or tentative green light given in advance, subject to specified conditions or final checks, rather than a binding, final decision. Think of it like a reservation that holds a spot pending confirmation; it signals lower initial uncertainty and faster execution if the remaining requirements are met, but it still can be revoked or updated. Investors care because pre-approval reduces near-term risk and speed friction for deals, financing, regulatory filings, or transactions, while still leaving some conditional risk.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Homes that sell within seven days are 2.6 times more likely to sell above asking price

• Nationally, 18.5% of homes went pending within seven days in February 2026, according to a Zillow analysis. In the fastest markets — St. Louis, Hartford and Seattle — more than 1 in 3 homes sold that quickly.
• Homes that went pending within seven days were 2.6 times more likely to sell above asking price than the typical listing in February 2026 — 44.3% of these fast-selling homes sold above list price, compared to 17.1% of all homes.
• Last month, the gap between how fast sold homes move and how long all active listings sit reached its widest point for any March since 2020. The typical sold home went pending after 19 days, while the median active listing had been on the market for 56 days.

SEATTLE, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Zillow® analysis reveals that the U.S. housing market is operating on two distinct tracks. Desirable, well-priced homes continue to sell quickly, though this group is shrinking. Other homes are lingering longer than they have in years. These numbers look similar to what would have been expected before the pandemic, pointing to a housing market that is settling into its new normal.

The gap between how quickly sold homes move and how long all inventory sits reached its widest point for any March since 2020. This March, the typical home that sold went pending in 19 days, while the median age of all active listings was 56 days — a 37-day difference. That gap was as narrow as nine days in April 2022. The divide reflects a market where buyers have more choices and more leverage than they have had in years, and where homes that stand out are rewarded, while others wait.

Nationally, 18.5% of homes went pending within seven days in February 2026, the latest month with complete sales data. In the fastest markets — including St. Louis, Hartford and Seattle — more than one-third of all homes sell that quickly. Among those fast-selling homes, 44.3% sold above asking price, compared to just 17.1% of all homes, making homes that sold within a week 2.6 times more likely to have attracted a bidding war. That's the second-highest such multiple in Zillow's data going back to 2018.

"The cream of the crop is still selling fast, even in markets that have slowed considerably," said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. "However, higher costs are putting buyers under pressure, so they are more choosy than during the pandemic frenzy. Desirability is ultimately a function of price, and getting the pricing strategy right from day one can be the difference between a week on the market and months. Sellers who meet buyers' current expectations of price, versus higher price expectations during the pandemic, can still sell their home quickly."

The divergence between homes that sell fast and homes that linger reflects a return to a more balanced housing market. Challenging financial conditions have limited the pool of buyers, yet those still in the market are benefiting from more options and bargaining power. Sellers whose listings check every box sell quickly, while others linger.

The divide plays out differently depending on where you look. Several Midwest markets where relative affordability has kept demand steady — including St. Louis, Cincinnati and Kansas City — have at least 3 in 10 homes selling within seven days. Sun Belt markets where inventory has surged — including Austin, San Antonio, Charlotte and Jacksonville — have fewer than 1 in 10 homes selling that quickly. Buyers in these markets have far more options and less incentive to make an immediate offer.

For buyers and sellers navigating this market, preparation and timing matter, and Zillow Preview℠ gives both sides an edge. Sellers can gain insights into their pricing and marketing strategy by gauging buyer interest before their home officially hits the market. Buyers get early visibility into homes heading to market directly in their regular Zillow search, giving them time to connect with an agent, get pre-approved and be ready to move the moment a home goes live. In a market where the best homes are gone in days, that head start can make all the difference.

Metro Area*	Median Days to Pending (March 2026)	Median Age of All Active Listings (March 2026)	Share of Homes Sold Within 7 Days (February 2026)	Share of Homes Sold Within 7 Days That Sold Above List (February 2026)	Share of All Homes Sold Above List (February 2026)
United States	19	56	18.5 %	44.3 %	17.1 %
New York, NY	25	49	5.6 %	53.4 %	33.9 %
Los Angeles, CA	18	40	14.4 %	56.1 %	32.3 %
Chicago, IL	8	26	25.0 %	58.5 %	24.7 %
Dallas, TX	25	52	13.6 %	36.5 %	9.6 %
Houston, TX	34	73	11.9 %	28.1 %	7.5 %
Washington, DC	7	24	33.5 %	62.1 %	28.1 %
Philadelphia, PA	9	27	28.2 %	60.7 %	29.2 %
Miami, FL	53	104	8.9 %	19.4 %	4.9 %
Atlanta, GA	33	59	8.6 %	36.1 %	12.7 %
Boston, MA	8	18	28.7 %	69.6 %	32.6 %
Phoenix, AZ	28	52	21.1 %	24.4 %	8.9 %
San Francisco, CA	13	20	17.6 %	79.6 %	55.0 %
Riverside, CA	26	55	12.4 %	48.9 %	23.8 %
Detroit, MI	12	40	22.8 %	61.7 %	23.9 %
Seattle, WA	9	26	34.7 %	58.1 %	25.4 %
Minneapolis, MN	18	27	11.5 %	68.0 %	22.9 %
San Diego, CA	15	33	19.2 %	59.0 %	31.5 %
Tampa, FL	36	69	16.3 %	29.9 %	8.2 %
Denver, CO	13	35	25.2 %	51.0 %	17.8 %
Baltimore, MD	8	27	30.4 %	62.8 %	29.7 %
St. Louis, MO	6	25	36.4 %	57.2 %	27.5 %
Orlando, FL	34	73	14.8 %	31.2 %	8.4 %
Charlotte, NC	18	48	8.0 %	43.5 %	12.6 %
San Antonio, TX	42	82	7.5 %	23.2 %	7.0 %
Portland, OR	12	40	27.4 %	59.3 %	23.2 %
Sacramento, CA	11	26	24.6 %	62.5 %	29.5 %
Pittsburgh, PA	11	48	22.3 %	47.1 %	16.3 %
Cincinnati, OH	6	27	33.1 %	37.9 %	17.4 %
Austin, TX	40	54	2.7 %	40.0 %	8.9 %
Las Vegas, NV	30	64	13.6 %	29.4 %	10.0 %
Kansas City, MO	5	24	33.3 %	55.1 %	23.1 %
Columbus, OH	6	26	30.3 %	47.7 %	19.8 %
Indianapolis, IN	13	35	22.3 %	32.7 %	11.4 %
Cleveland, OH	7	25	31.2 %	52.9 %	24.0 %
San Jose, CA	11	17	22.4 %	83.9 %	60.9 %
Nashville, TN	23	51	17.2 %	20.7 %	6.6 %
Virginia Beach, VA	23	33	9.4 %	48.9 %	25.4 %
Providence, RI	11	26	24.6 %	75.8 %	35.6 %
Jacksonville, FL	46	65	8.0 %	22.7 %	7.3 %
Milwaukee, WI	13	32	11.0 %	79.7 %	39.0 %
Oklahoma City, OK	25	58	21.2 %	31.5 %	12.3 %
Raleigh, NC	15	36	19.5 %	45.9 %	12.3 %
Memphis, TN	24	60	17.4 %	25.4 %	10.7 %
Richmond, VA	6	16	33.9 %	58.5 %	28.2 %
Louisville, KY	12	39	25.1 %	35.6 %	13.6 %
New Orleans, LA	38	91	12.8 %	26.0 %	5.4 %
Salt Lake City, UT	15	35	20.2 %	50.3 %	17.8 %
Hartford, CT	6	11	35.1 %	86.1 %	48.9 %
Buffalo, NY	10	16	14.6 %	78.6 %	41.8 %
Birmingham, AL	15	54	22.3 %	50.6 %	17.5 %

*Table ordered by market size

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 the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more.

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.

(ZFIN)

 

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SOURCE Zillow

FAQ

What share of U.S. homes went pending within seven days in February 2026 for Z (Zillow)?

18.5% of U.S. homes went pending within seven days in February 2026. According to Zillow, that cohort was far likelier to sell above list price, with 44.3% of fast-selling homes selling above asking.

How much more likely were homes sold within seven days to go above asking price for Z (Zillow)?

Homes that sold within seven days were 2.6 times more likely to sell above list price. According to Zillow, 44.3% of fast-selling homes sold above list versus 17.1% of all homes.

What was the difference between pending time and active listing age in March 2026 for Z (Zillow)?

The typical sold home went pending in 19 days while median active listings were 56 days old. According to Zillow, that is a 37-day gap, the widest March difference since 2020.

Which U.S. metros had the highest share of homes selling within seven days in early 2026 according to Z (Zillow)?

St. Louis, Hartford, and Seattle topped the list, each with over one-third of homes selling within seven days. According to Zillow, St. Louis posted 36.4%, Hartford 35.1%, and Seattle 34.7% (Feb 2026).

How do Sun Belt markets like Austin compare on quick sales for Z (Zillow)?

Several Sun Belt markets showed far fewer quick sales; Austin recorded only 2.7% of homes selling within seven days. According to Zillow, higher inventory in those markets gives buyers more time and choice.