This interactive housing market map shows where sellers—and buyers—have the most power right now

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Zillow economists use an economic model known as the Zillow Market Heat Index to gauge the competitiveness of housing markets across the country. This model looks at key indicators—including home price changes, inventory levels, and days on market—to generate a score showing whether a market favors sellers or buyers.

A higher score indicates a hotter metro-level housing market where sellers have more power. A lower score indicates a colder metro-level housing market where buyers have more power.

According to Zillow:

• Score of 70 or above = strong sellers market

• Score from 55 to 69 = sellers market

• Score from 44 to 55 = neutral market

• Score from 28 to 44 = buyers market

• Score of 27 or below = strong buyers market

Nationally, Zillow rates the U.S. housing market at 55 for its March 2025 reading, published in April 2025.

That said, Zillow’s reading varies significantly across the county.

Click here to view an interactive of the map below

Among the 250 largest metro area housing markets, these 10 are the HOTTEST markets, where sellers have the most power:

1. Rochester, NY —> 185 rating

2. Buffalo, NY —> 128

3. Syracuse, NY —> 102

4. Hartford, CT —> 99

5. Charleston, WV —> 97

6. Albany, NY —> 95

7. Manchester, NH —> 92

8. Ann Arbor, MI —> 92

9. Poughkeepsie, NY —> 91

10. Boston, MA —> 89

Among the 250 largest metro area housing markets, these 10 are the COLDEST markets, where buyers have the most power:

1. Jackson, TN —> 16 rating

2. Gulfport, MS —> 24

3. Brownsville, TX —> 26

4. Macon, GA —> 26

5. Daphne, AL —> 27

6. Beaumont, TX —> 28

7. Naples, FL —> 28

8. Cape Coral, FL —> 30

9. Panama City, FL —> 30

10. Punta Gorda, FL —> 32

Does ResiClub agree with Zillow’s assessment?

Directionally, we believe Zillow has correctly identified many regional housing markets where buyers have gained the most power—particularly around the Gulf—as well as markets where sellers have maintained (relatively speaking) somewhat of a grip, including large portions of the Northeast and Midwest.

Based on my personal housing analysis, I consider Southwest Florida the weakest/softest chunk of the U.S. housing market, followed by Texas markets around Austin and San Antonio.

What did this Zillow analysis look like back in spring 2022 at the climax of the Pandemic Housing Boom?

Below is Zillow’s March 2022 reading—published in April 2022.

ResiClub PRO members (paid tier) get greater access to our housing reporting:

• 3 additional subscriber-only housing research articles per week

• Monthly ResiClub PRO Webinar

• Access to Lance Lambert's housing trackers—includes metro and county level price and inventory analysis

• Subscriber-only residential real estate research, rankings, and reports

• You may incorporate ResiClub branded charts into your personal marketing/content materials

Turnover in the resale market remains constrained

The table below shows monthly national existing home sales—without seasonal adjustment—this century.

In March 2025, U.S. existing home sales were running at a 4.02 million seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR).

Meaning, if we maintained the current existing home sales pace, we’d do 4.02 million U.S. existing home sales over the next 12 months.

The monthly ResiClub PRO webinar is today

On Monday, April 28 (i.e. today), we will hold this month’s one-hour monthly webinar for ResiClub PRO members at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT).

ResiClub PRO members can find the webinar link here.