10 Fastest and Slowest Housing Markets in the U.S. Right Now

In February 2026, 18.5% of U.S. listings went pending in seven days or less, and those homes were 2.6 times more likely to sell above asking price. 

The typical sold home went pending in 19 days in March, while the median active listing sat on the market for 56 days. Buyers have more options than they’ve had in years, and they’re choosing carefully, which puts pressure on sellers to get pricing right from day one.

A recent Zillow analysis highlights the fastest and slowest markets in the U.S. right now, ranking them by median days on market and the share of listings going under contract in a week or less. 

Well-positioned homes still move quickly, though fewer listings fall into that category. Local dynamics are shaping how that plays out across the country, which is evident when you look at where homes are selling fastest and where they’re taking their time. 

Here’s how Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy explains it. 

“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.”

Let’s start with the markets where listings are moving at breakneck speed.

The Fastest Housing Markets in the U.S.

Speed defines these markets right now. Homes move quickly, often within a week, as buyers compete for limited inventory that meets pricing expectations. 

Many of these metros share a common thread: relative affordability paired with steady demand, which keeps pressure on available listings and shortens the path to a pending sale.

Here are the 11 fastest markets in the U.S. (with the last three tied), ranked by median days to pending: 

1. Kansas City, MO: 5 days
2. Hartford, CT: 6 days
3. St. Louis, MO: 6 days
4. Columbus, OH: 6 days
5. Cincinnati, OH: 6 days
6. Richmond, VA: 6 days
7. Washington, DC: 7 days
8. Cleveland, OH: 7 days
9. Boston, MA: 8 days
10. Baltimore, MD: 8 days
11. Chicago, IL:8 days

The top 10 markets by the share of listings that went pending within 7 days: 

1. St. Louis, MO: 36.4%
2. Hartford, CT: 35.1%
3. Seattle, WA: 34.7%
4. Richmond, VA: 33.9%
5. Washington, DC: 33.5%
6. Kansas City, MO: 33.3%
7. Cincinnati, OH: 33.1%
8. Cleveland, OH: 31.2%
9. Baltimore, MD: 30.4%
10. Columbus, OH: 30.3%

Several of these metros push past the one-in-three mark for homes going pending within a week. Listings in these areas tend to attract strong interest early, which raises the odds of multiple offers and pushes a higher share of sales above list price. 

Buyers who hesitate risk missing out, while sellers who price with precision are more likely to capture that urgency. 

Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, homes are sitting longer and buyers are taking a different approach.

The Slowest U.S. Housing Markets

Homes in these markets take longer to go pending. Inventory sits longer, and buyers move at a measured pace, because they can or because their housing budget made the decision for them.  

Higher supply plays a role in several of these metros, giving buyers more room to weigh options and negotiate without the same urgency seen in faster markets.

Here are the 10 slowest U.S. markets ranked by median days to pending:

1. Miami, FL: 53 days
2. Jacksonville, FL: 46 days
3. San Antonio, TX: 42 days
4. Austin, TX: 40 days
5. New Orleans, LA: 38 days
6. Tampa, FL: 36 days
7. Houston, TX: 34 days
8. Orlando, FL: 34 days
9. Atlanta, GA: 33 days
10. Las Vegas, NV: 30 days

And the top 10 ranked by the share of listings that went to pending in seven days or less:

1. Austin, TX: 2.7%
2. New York, NY: 5.6%
3. San Antonio, TX: 7.5%
4. Jacksonville, FL: 8.0%
5. Charlotte, NC: 8.0%
6. Atlanta, GA: 8.6%
7. Miami, FL: 8.9%
8. Virginia Beach, VA: 9.4%
9. Milwaukee, WI: 11.0%
10. Minneapolis, MN: 11.5%

When homes sit on the market longer, the whole negotiation dynamic changes. Sellers can’t rely on urgency to hold their price, so concessions and adjustments become part of the conversation more often than not. 

It’s a good reminder that real estate is still deeply local. While the national picture may be evening out, what’s happening on your street should take priority in your conversations with homeowners. 

Competitive markets reward precision from day one, where getting the price and presentation right isn’t optional. 

Slower markets call for a different approach: positioning, patience, and understanding that today’s buyers have been through enough to know what they want and what they won’t settle for.

Knowing where your market falls on that spectrum is the foundation for how you counsel clients and how you stay relevant in the months ahead.