Hartford, Conn., was also forecasted to be among the top markets by the real estate listing website, but Boston ranked 16th among the 50 metro areas compared.

While the national housing supply recently reached a four-year high, buying a home in some U.S. cities may be especially difficult in 2025, a new Zillow report suggests. To make its predictions, Zillow reviewed multiple factors — including how quickly homes have been selling,

With steep competition to find a home in the new year, these cities offer affordable options for buyers in the housing market.

Zillow currently reports that the strongest housing markets for sellers are in the Northeast. That includes multiple New York cities — Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and New York City — as well as metros in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The only non-Northeastern city considered a “strong seller’s market” is San Jose, California.

Buffalo also ranked at the top of the 2024 list, making it the first market to lead the list in back-to-back years. Zillow's analysis considers such factors as home construction, the local job market and the percentage of homeownership.

With steep competition to find a home in the new year, these cities offer affordable options for buyers in the housing market.