What the Top Buyers Markets Say About Housing in 2025

So far in 2025, the housing market has been defined by slowing home price growth and a lack of demand from homebuyers. Still, some markets are managing to grab buyers’ attention.

Each year, Realtor.com showcases the areas that have been the most attractive to buyers throughout the course of a given year in its Hottest Zip Codes Report. This year’s report shows many buyers are prioritizing value by shopping in areas where homes are priced below local metro medians, particularly in suburbs that still offer easy access to city amenities.

Homebuyers aren’t necessarily looking for affordability—they’re interested in lower prices relative to the metros they live in

Buyers in 2025 are more focused on value rather than outright affordability. The report shows that seven of the top 10 metros on the list have median home listings above the national average of $441,000. However, six of the seven cities were still more affordable than their surrounding metro areas.

For instance, the top market this year was Beverly, Mass., which is located in the larger Boston metro. While about $250,000 higher than the national average, the median listing price in Beverly, Mass., is $746,000. This price is still about 16% lower than the median listing price for Boston.

Northeast and Midwest metros dominate the list

Like Beverly, Mass., a majority of this year’s hottest markets are located in the Northeast and Midwest. Also included in the top ten metros were Marlton, N.J.; Leominster, Mass.; Ballwin, Mo.; and Wayne, N.J.; among several others.

With competition only mounting in these regions, housing inventory is getting tighter. National housing inventory was 28.9% higher year-over-year as of June 2025, but listings remained 12.9% below 2019 levels. However, in the hottest housing markets, inventory was even more constrained, averaging 58.9% below 2019 levels.

In particular, buyers are gravitating toward suburban metros closer to city centers

The hottest markets in 2025 have more in common than just their region. They are also all located in suburban areas near major metros that provide more space, lifestyle flexibility, and quick commute times. Buyers today tend to be higher earners who value a mix of amenities, space, accessibility, and overall value more than just affordability.

Additionally, many of the top markets feature larger and newer homes than their surrounding metro areas. For example, in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville, Ohio, homes are about 41% bigger and often have an extra bathroom compared with the metro average.

The trend toward suburban living isn’t new. As homes become less affordable, both renters and buyers alike have become more interested in the suburbs

• As Americans Are Priced Out of Major Cities, Suburbs See More Growth: The high cost of living has caused the suburbs to see faster growth than most major U.S. cities. 
• Rentership Surges Above Homeownership in the Suburbs: Homeowners have traditionally dominated the suburbs, but more recently, even renters are headed to the suburbs as they get priced out of cities.