Consumer Corner
Buffalo thunders back as Zillow’s hottest market for 2025
Affordability and job growth are key drivers of competition
- Competition among buyers never cooled in Buffalo last year, and that heat should keep smoldering through 2025.
- Hot markets spread from the Northeast, Great Lakes and South regions into the Midwest and West.
- Virginia Beach jumped farthest up the list from 2024, leapfrogging over 23 markets.
SEATTLE, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buffalo, New York, will be the hottest major housing market in 2025, according to a new analysis by Zillow®, the first time a market has held the title in back-to-back years. Relative affordability and few homes for sale are common threads among what should be the most competitive markets for buyers this year. 
“Construction that keeps pace with an area’s growth remains a crucial piece of keeping homes available and accessible. In chilly Buffalo, competition among buyers will remain hot, with employment growing far faster than builders are adding homes,” said Skylar Olsen, Zillow chief economist. “Shoppers nationwide should see more options for sale than in recent years, along with slow and steady price growth. That’s the good news. But both buyers and sellers should expect unpredictable mortgage rates.”
This hotness ranking of the nation’s 50 most populous metros takes into account Zillow’s forecast for local home value growth and how quickly homes are selling. It also considers job growth per new home permitted and expected growth in owner-occupied households.
Zillow forecast Buffalo to be the hottest market in 2024, and that prediction proved prescient. Sellers held a strong advantage in negotiations there throughout last year, according to Zillow’s market heat index.
Buffalo has the most new jobs per new home permitted — a measure of expected demand. New jobs often mean new residents, which raises competition and drives up prices unless builders can match the additional demand.
Although affordability has improved slightly compared to last year, it’s still top of mind for buyers. Lower-than-average home prices and rent costs in Buffalo as well as Midwest metros like Indianapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City have bolstered demand in these areas, helping push them to the top of the list.
Relative affordability is a powerful force, too. Nearby alternatives to expensive Northeastern metros like New York and Boston dominated Zillow’s list of the most popular cities among home shoppers in 2024. Metropolitan areas in the same vein — Providence, Hartford and Philadelphia — rank high on this list as well.
Hartford, Providence, Indianapolis and Charlotte are all among the top five in Zillow’s forecast for home value appreciation in 2025. Hartford leads the pack with 4.2% expected growth. But home value growth is set to largely level out this year — even these standout metros look tame compared to the double-digit annual appreciation seen in 2021 and 2022.
Rising fastest in the ranks from 2024’s hottest markets list is Virginia Beach, which leapfrogged over 23 markets to the No. 13 spot this year, driven by job growth that has far outpaced new home permitting. Memphis fell the farthest by the same token, dropping 30 places, as new home permitting has eclipsed low job growth.
After the entire western half of the country was shut out of last year’s top 10, Salt Lake City nudged its way onto this year’s list at No. 10. San Diego was the only other Western metro in the top 20, at No. 19.
Mortgage rates are likely to continue on their bumpy path in 2025, and swings will have a major impact on which homes shoppers can afford or even qualify for. Zillow Home Loans’ BuyAbilitySM tool tracks rates in real time to show users which homes fit their budget.
| 2025 Hottest Markets Rank | Metropolitan Area | Change in Rank from 2024 | Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) 2024 | ZHVI Year over Year Growth, 2024 | 2025 Home Value Growth Forecast | Jobs per New Home Permitted | Change in Inventory Versus 2018–2019 Averages |
| 1 | Buffalo, NY | 0 | $260,537 | 5.7 % | 2.8 % | 2.0 | -46.1 % |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | 2 | $275,639 | 3.6 % | 3.4 % | 0.5 | -16.1 % |
| 3 | Providence, RI | 2 | $484,019 | 6.7 % | 3.7 % | 1.3 | -62 % |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | 15 | $363,298 | 6.5 % | 4.2 % | 1.1 | -68.6 % |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | 6 | $362,744 | 4.6 % | 2.6 % | 1.5 | -46 % |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | 9 | $250,141 | 4.2 % | 1.9 % | 1.3 | -43.8 % |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | $377,450 | 1.6 % | 3.2 % | -0.5 | 17.5 % |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | 10 | $299,118 | 3.8 % | 2.7 % | 0.2 | -36 % |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | 11 | $368,957 | 4.1 % | 2.9 % | -0.1 | -43.3 % |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | 18 | $543,324 | 2.8 % | 2.3 % | 0.5 | -4.8 % |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH | -9 | $281,887 | 4.6 % | 2.9 % | -0.2 | -32.8 % |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | -9 | $310,746 | 3.8 % | 3.1 % | -0.8 | -20.5 % |
| 13 | Virginia Beach, VA | 23 | $349,186 | 4.6 % | 2.5 % | 1.2 | -42.6 % |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | -6 | $228,140 | 6.4 % | 2.8 % | 0.6 | -52.6 % |
| 15 | Miami, FL | 10 | $486,056 | 1.0 % | 3.5 % | 1.0 | -4.4 % |
| 16 | Boston, MA | 10 | $694,494 | 4.7 % | 2.1 % | 0.1 | -45.8 % |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | 21 | $230,466 | 2.5 % | 2.4 % | 0.7 | -2.5 % |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | 6 | $248,126 | 4.8 % | 1.7 % | 0.1 | -34.1 % |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | 10 | $939,174 | 3.8 % | 2.5 % | -0.4 | -32.9 % |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | 21 | $247,509 | 0.7 % | 1.3 % | 0.4 | -13.9 % |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | -4 | $441,066 | 1.1 % | 1.7 % | -0.7 | -13.5 % |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | 12 | $583,420 | 3 % | 2.4 % | -0.3 | -25. % |
| 23 | Orlando, FL | -14 | $391,924 | -0.3 % | 2.2 % | -0.6 | 17 % |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | -18 | $379,262 | 0.3 % | 2.6 % | -0.7 | -3 % |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | -9 | $208,583 | 2.8 % | 0.6 % | 1.0 | -32.3 % |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | -12 | $255,206 | 4.7 % | 1.9 % | -0.4 | -27.1 % |
| 27 | Phoenix, AZ | 8 | $454,001 | -0.3 % | 1.7 % | -0.4 | -7.9 % |
| 28 | Washington, DC | 11 | $567,825 | 4.4 % | 0.8 % | -0.1 | -38.8 % |
| 29 | Tampa, FL | -19 | $372,170 | -2.5 % | 2.2 % | -0.6 | 7.3 % |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | -9 | $368,683 | -0.4 % | 1.0 % | -0.4 | 1.5 % |
| 31 | Nashville, TN | 2 | $436,301 | 1.7 % | 2.2 % | -0.8 | -10.8 % |
| 32 | Seattle, WA | 0 | $735,683 | 5.1 % | 1.9 % | -1.0 | -23.5 % |
| 33 | Baltimore, MD | 10 | $386,001 | 3.6 % | 0.8 % | -0.2 | -46.9 % |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | -11 | $949,057 | 4.6 % | 1.7 % | -0.4 | -26.1 % |
| 35 | Las Vegas, NV | -23 | $428,725 | 5.1 % | 1.1 % | 0.2 | -18.3 % |
| 36 | San Antonio, TX | 13 | $280,603 | -1.8 % | 0.3 % | 0.2 | 22.7 % |
| 37 | Sacramento, CA | -10 | $577,630 | 2.1 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 | -29.9 % |
| 38 | Houston, TX | 9 | $306,191 | 0.6 % | 0.6 % | -0.3 | 1 % |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | -17 | $321,484 | 5.4 % | 1.2 % | -0.5 | -48.6 % |
| 40 | Jacksonville, FL | -9 | $353,501 | -0.9 % | 1.9 % | -0.8 | 14.1 % |
| 41 | New York, NY | 4 | $677,368 | 6.4 % | 1.3 % | 0.3 | -55.9 % |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | 2 | $343,920 | 5.3 % | 2.4 % | -1.6 | -27.1 % |
| 43 | Memphis, TN | -30 | $233,885 | 1.1 % | 2.3 % | -1.7 | -1.2 % |
| 44 | Denver, CO | 4 | $579,604 | 0.8 % | 0.1 % | -0.6 | 4.3 % |
| 45 | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $368,562 | 2.5 % | 0.2 % | -0.8 | -26.7 % |
| 46 | Austin, TX | -6 | $444,248 | -3.2 % | -0.4 % | -0.6 | 33.7 % |
| 47 | Portland, OR | -10 | $543,814 | 1.8 % | 0.3 % | -1.3 | -19.3 % |
| 48 | San Jose, CA | -6 | $1,588,186 | 7.9 % | -0.2 % | -1.3 | -34.8 % |
| 49 | San Francisco, CA | -19 | $1,140,718 | 2.7 % | -1.7 % | -1.1 | -3.5 % |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | 0 | $235,657 | -1.4 % | -3.8 % | -0.9 | 61.1 % |
About Zillow Group:
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and easier buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences.
Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Zillow Rentals®, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce®, and Follow Up Boss®.
All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2025 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.
(ZFIN)
(Sheeka Sanahori) There is always something: a leaky faucet, chipping paint, gutters full of leaves or a room that no longer works the way it used to. Homeownership comes with a permanent background hum of maintenance, repairs and decisions that can only be ignored for so long.
What homeowners do next depends a lot on where they live.
A new international study from Angi, a home services marketplace, found that Americans are among the world’s more proactive homeowners, with nearly half (49%) taking a preventative approach to maintenance, scheduling regular checks and staying on top of concerns before something breaks. South Korea leads the study at 56%. Japan sits at the other end: 60% of Japanese homeowners address issues only when they arise.
When it comes to DIY home repairs, France leads the study. Sixty-five percent of French homeowners say they handle most repairs themselves, the highest rate among the surveyed countries.
Home care, it turns out, looks fundamentally different depending on where people live and what they believe home is for. Cultural differences are also at play for homeowner behavior beyond the toolbox. In France, 2 out of 5 homeowners enforce a no-phones rule at the dinner table, the highest rate in the study, while Canadians and Japanese are nearly twice as likely as Americans to require shoes off at the door (69% vs. 37%).
Opinions vary from country to country, even for keeping a tidy home. A majority of Germans and Americans prefer to keep a “lived-in and comfortable” appearance. Forty percent of Brazilians believe a home should always be clean and tidy, more than any other country. Of all the countries surveyed, the Dutch were the most likely to respond with “home is for living, not impressing others.”
In North America, homeownership tends to be tied to investment. Americans and Canadians are the most likely of any country to renovate specifically to increase property value, while many European homeowners prioritize comfort and quality of life over resale potential. When a home no longer fits, the instinct varies just as sharply: More than three-quarters of German homeowners would renovate rather than move, the highest rate across all countries surveyed, while 41% of British homeowners would rather relocate. Americans take a more pragmatic middle path—37% say they would stay and make do.
Unexpected and emergency repairs remain a universal source of stress regardless of the country. The most maintenance-minded Americans are also the youngest: Gen Z and Millennial homeowners lead on proactive upkeep, with 51% preferring to check home systems before problems start and 55% using smart security technology compared with 19% of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.
A home is never just the structure itself. It reflects the routines, priorities and tradeoffs people make, from the repairs they tackle to the rituals that shape daily life. Around the world, home care is less about one right way to do it and more about what people believe a home is supposed to be.
Methodology
Angi, along with its international family of home service marketplaces, commissioned an online survey of 4,492 homeowners across 10 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Brazil. The U.S. sample included 1,237 homeowners. The margin of error for U.S. findings is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Fieldwork was conducted between May 1 and May 19, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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(Feature Impact) Stretches of scorching summer days may leave you and your family feeling like you just can’t quite get (or stay) cool. If you find yourself resigned to cooler rooms or leaving ceiling fans on constantly, it might be time to check your air conditioner.
Extreme heat is no longer rare for many parts of the country. According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 13 million households reported being uncomfortably hot for an extended period.
Not all air conditioning systems perform the same when temperatures spike. While most systems can keep up on typical summer days, prolonged heat can expose performance gaps, leading to uneven cooling and higher energy use. The difference often comes down to how the system is designed.
To better understand whether your HVAC system can stand up to summer, consider this information from the experts at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS), a world leader in residential air conditioning units with sophisticated, durable systems that deliver quiet operation and energy-efficient performance.
Why Some Homes Stay More Comfortable Than Others
Not every home experiences summer heat the same way. Factors such as home layout, sun exposure, insulation, and HVAC system design can all influence how effectively a home maintains comfort during prolonged periods of high temperatures.
For example, upstairs bedrooms, rooms with large windows, and spaces exposed to direct afternoon sun often have different cooling demands than other areas of the home. Systems that provide more precise temperature control and flexibility can help address these differences and deliver more consistent comfort throughout the house.
Signs Your System May Be Struggling
As summer temperatures rise, there are often clear signs that an HVAC system may be struggling to keep up with demand. One of the most common indicators is a system that seems to run constantly during the hottest parts of the day, yet fails to deliver the level of comfort homeowners expect.
Homeowners may also notice persistent warm spots in certain rooms, increased indoor humidity, or weaker airflow from vents. In some cases, increased noise from vents or equipment may signal the system is working harder than usual to maintain airflow and cooling performance.
Another warning sign often appears on monthly utility statements. A noticeable increase in energy use during peak summer months can indicate the system is consuming more power to maintain comfort under challenging conditions.
What Makes the Difference in Extreme Heat
Not all HVAC systems are built the same. Modern system design plays a critical role in how well a home stays comfortable during prolonged high temperatures. Zoned Comfort Solutions from Mitsubishi Electric include ducted and ductless options designed to deliver reliable comfort, efficiency, and control in demanding conditions like summer heat surges, along with important features like:
- Cooling performance designed to maintain comfort even during extreme outdoor temperatures
- Precise temperature control that helps deliver more consistent comfort throughout the home
- Quiet, efficient operation that delivers strong performance with less noise and energy use
- Flexible installation options for homes with existing ductwork and homes without ducts, plus room additions, garages, sunrooms, and other hard-to-cool spaces
Evaluating whether your current system is designed to handle sustained high temperatures can help prevent discomfort and avoid rushed decisions during the hottest days of the year. To learn more, visit MitsubishiComfort.com.
SOURCE:
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US
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Consumer Corner
Behind the Product: What Sustainability Looks Like in Beauty Development
Beauty Development: Shoppers want to know what ingredients are used, how items are packaged and whether the production process includes thoughtful choices. Beauty brands are taking note, and sustainability is increasingly shaping decisions across sourcing, packaging, production, shipping, storage and replenishment.
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(Feature Impact) Shoppers are paying closer attention to the products they bring into their homes. They want to know what ingredients are used, how items are packaged and whether the production process includes thoughtful choices. Beauty brands are taking note, and sustainability is increasingly shaping decisions across sourcing, packaging, production, shipping, storage and replenishment.
Responsible product lines rarely come from sweeping change. They are built through smaller, connected choices made throughout development. Packaging, ingredient sourcing and production planning influence how a product performs, how much waste it creates and how sustainably products can be produced.
Consider this beauty sustainability information from Laura Badcock, Chief Operating Officer of NourishUs Naturals.
Why packaging matters beyond appearance
“Packaging is often the first thing shoppers notice,” Badcock said. “It can shape how someone feels about a product before they ever try what’s inside.”
A package should look appealing, though appearance is only part of the equation. It also needs to protect the product, travel safely, store well and hold up through regular use. Once the product is finished, the packaging should allow easy recycling, refilling or responsible disposal.
There is no single packaging option that works best for every beauty product. A lightweight container may reduce shipping weight. A refillable option may stay in use longer. A recyclable material may work well in one area but create challenges in another if local recycling systems cannot process it. Even packaging that appears sustainable can create problems in practice if it leaks, breaks or requires excess shipping materials.
Why ingredient sourcing matters
“Ingredient lists have become an important part of how people evaluate beauty products,” Badcock said. “Shoppers often look for familiar oils, butters, botanical extracts and information about how ingredients were sourced, which plays a major role in the environmental impact.”
A product’s environmental footprint is influenced by many factors, including shipping distance, processing methods, storage conditions and supplier practices.
These factors can also affect product consistency and ingredient availability over time. Beauty brands working with wholesale skin care suppliers or private label manufacturers often need to balance ingredient goals with sourcing reliability and production needs.
How better planning can lead to less waste
“Packaging and ingredients are usually the first things people associate with sustainability, but how much product gets made, stored and discarded matters, too,” Badcock said.
Overproduction is one of the biggest hidden sources of waste in beauty and personal care. Products that sit too long in storage may eventually expire or remain unsold. Excess inventory can also create additional packaging waste, warehousing needs and disposal costs.
Smaller batch sizes give producers more room to adjust as trends or demand shift, and producing closer to expected sales windows helps reduce long storage periods and unnecessary waste. Testing new products in smaller volumes and restocking based on actual demand makes overproduction less likely.
How sustainable beauty choices are connected
Packaging, ingredient sourcing and production planning are closely connected throughout development.
“A packaging choice can affect shipping weight, storage needs and whether a package can be refilled,” Badcock said. “Ingredient choices can influence sourcing timelines and how products need to be stored. Production planning affects how much material gets used and how much product could eventually go unsold.”
Beauty shoppers want more transparency around sustainability claims
Sustainability claims carry less weight when those claims aren’t explained in practice.
This shift is pushing many beauty brands to focus more heavily on traceability, supplier relationships and clearer product information. Transparency is becoming part of the customer experience itself.
More responsible product lines are built over time
Responsible beauty products come together through ongoing choices around packaging, sourcing, production and inventory planning. For shoppers, those choices influence the products they bring into their homes.
“The brands that build sustainability into early decisions tend to have the easiest time maintaining it later,” Badcock said. “Once supplier relationships, packaging formats and production routines are in place, small adjustments are far easier than major changes. Treating sustainability as part of product development from the beginning, rather than something to fix later, is what makes it work in practice.”
To find more information on the intersection of beauty and sustainability, visitNourishUsNaturals.com.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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