US EditionMost Buyer-Friendly Housing Markets in 2026, According to Zillow
Zillow's 2026 list highlights 10 top U.S. metros with lower buyer competition and affordability, where median mortgage payments are below 30% of income in half of these markets.
- Earlier this month, Zillow Group, Inc. released its buyer-friendly markets list, with Indianapolis, IN, Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC leading the rankings.
- Midwest markets largely avoided steep pandemic-era price run-ups, preserving affordability, while Sun Belt new construction boosted inventory and eased buyer competition, Zillow says.
- Jacksonville, FL data show a typical home value of $342,853 , with forecasted 1.5% annual growth and a mortgage share of 32.2%.
- Buyers will find less competition and more room to negotiate, while sellers may offer concessions like covering closing costs and should price strategically.
- Zillow's outlook for this year calls for modest home-value growth and mortgage rates toward 6%, which could boost home sales as buyers gain negotiation leverage, Orphe Divounguy said.
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20 Articles
The most buyer-friendly housing markets in the US
There are a handful of housing markets across the Midwest and the Sun Belt that have more available inventory, partly due to a boost in new construction, giving buyers more choices and negotiating power.Taking the top spot on Zillow's list of the metros with the most buyer-friendly housing conditions in 2026 is Indianapolis. The Indiana capital was ranked No. 1 among 50 metros analyzed by Zillow. Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville and Oklahoma Cit…
Indianapolis leads Zillow's list of the best markets to buy a home in 2026 - Zillow Gr (NASDAQ:Z), Zillow Gr (NASDAQ:ZG)
Home buyers can expect a less stressful shopping experience in Indianapolis, Atlanta and Charlotte this year Zillow has identified the most buyer-friendly housing markets of 2026 among the 50 largest U.S. metros.
New Report Names ‘Most Buyer-Friendly Markets’ of 2026
With affordability being near if not at the top of the list of housing market challenges for the past year, locations where homebuyers can find a little breathing room in competition for cost and inventory are welcome options. A new report from Zillow helps identify some of these places, where buyers have more negotiating power… The post New Report Names ‘Most Buyer-Friendly Markets’ of 2026 appeared first on RISMedia.
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