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The Hottest and Coldest US Property Markets Right Now

David Garner

Published On: June 3rd, 2025

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📍Buyers or Sellers Market? Zillow Ranks 250 U.S. Property Markets (Spring 2025)

🏠 Is it still a seller’s market—or have buyers finally gained the upper hand?
According to Zillow’s Market Heat Index, the U.S. housing market is now teetering on the edge of neutrality, with big differences from city to city. In their latest April 2025 data (released May 2025), Zillow assigns the national market a score of 55—just barely in seller territory.

But a closer look reveals major regional swings, with some cities booming for sellers and others cooling rapidly, favoring buyers. Let’s break it down.

🔥 Zillow’s Housing Market Heat Index: How It Works

Zillow’s Market Heat Index measures the competitiveness of each metro’s housing market by combining:

📈 Home price appreciation
📉 Inventory levels
⏳ Days on market

Each metro receives a score between 0 and 200:

Score Range	Market Type
70+	🔥 Strong Seller’s Market
55–69	🏠 Seller’s Market
44–54	⚖️ Neutral Market
28–43	🛒 Buyer’s Market
0–27	❄️ Strong Buyer’s Market

🌡️ National Market Snapshot (April 2025)

🏠 National Score: 55
📊 Straddles the line between a seller’s and a neutral market

US Housing Market Buyers or Sellers Market May 2025

🌟 Top 10 Hottest Markets for Sellers (April 2025)

These metros are red-hot, with sellers holding the power—homes are moving fast, and prices are rising sharply.

🔝 Rank	Metro Area	Market Heat Score
1️⃣	Rochester, NY	169
2️⃣	Buffalo, NY	126
3️⃣	Charleston, WV	107
4️⃣	Syracuse, NY	105
5️⃣	Hartford, CT	97
6️⃣	Albany, NY	97
7️⃣	Manchester, NH	93
8️⃣	Anchorage, AK	86
9️⃣	Boston, MA	85
🔟	Lansing, MI	85

🧭 Trend Insight: The Northeast and Upper Midwest continue to lead the pack in market tightness—though some analysts argue Zillow may be overstating seller power in these areas.

🧊 10 Coldest Markets for Buyers (April 2025)

In these metros, buyers now have more negotiating power—more inventory, longer time on market, and price softening.

🔝 Rank	Metro Area	Market Heat Score
1️⃣	Jackson, TN 23	23
2️⃣	Macon, GA	25
3️⃣	Gulfport, MS	26
4️⃣	Brownsville, TX	27
5️⃣	Naples, FL	27
6️⃣	Cape Coral, FL	30
7️⃣	Daphne, AL	30
8️⃣	Panama City, FL	30
9️⃣	Punta Gorda, FL	31
🔟	Beaumont, TX	33

🧭 Trend Insight: Southwest Florida and Central Texas now show the softest housing conditions nationally, with buyer leverage at multi-year highs.

📌 5 Key Takeaways from Zillow’s Spring 2025 Report

Buyers gain leverage in the South
Florida’s Gulf Coast and parts of Texas are now decisively buyer-friendly, as supply rises and prices stabilize.
Sellers still winning in the Northeast
Cities like Rochester and Buffalo remain strongholds for sellers, though analysts caution Zillow’s index may slightly overstate the strength of these markets.
Mixed conditions in the Midwest
Lansing and other Michigan metros are showing seller dominance—but on the ground, market conditions may be closer to neutral.
The West Coast cools down
Despite high price tags, many West Coast metros have softened compared to the peak pandemic boom—but Zillow’s data may not fully reflect the shift.
Overall market stabilizing
The national index at 55 suggests the post-pandemic market frenzy is giving way to a more balanced landscape, especially as inventory levels slowly rise.

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🧭 What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

If you’re buying in Florida or Texas: 🎯 Now may be your window. More listings, longer days on market, and price flexibility work in your favor.
If you’re selling in the Northeast: 💸 Still a hot ticket—but be aware that competition is heating up and momentum may be slowing in coming months.
If you’re on the fence: 🕵️‍♂️ Watch your local market carefully. Zillow’s tool is a great starting point, but local trends may vary. Work with an agent who knows your area well.