The Fastest- and Slowest-Selling Housing Markets in 2026
We analyzed market data from the 100 most populous U.S. metros and all 50 states to find where homes are selling the fastest and slowest.
Spring is traditionally one of the busiest times for the housing market, but this year, it's off to a sluggish start. Easing mortgage rates and slower home price appreciation were supposed to get buyers and sellers off the sidelines in 2026, but the war in Iran sent mortgage rates soaring and rattled consumer confidence.
In March, home sales fell to their slowest pace in nine months as many consumers wait to see economic improvement before making a move. The slowdown isn't hitting every market equally, however, and demand for homes is still high in some cities with low supply.
To determine where homes take the longest to sell, we analyzed market data from the 100 most populous U.S. metros. We found a deeply divided market where the gap between the fastest- and slowest-selling markets has never been wider.
| City | Days on Market | DOM YoY | Off Market in 2 Weeks | Months of Supply | Inventory per 1K | Median List Price | Sold Above List Price | Price Drops |
|---|
Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
The National Slowdown
The amount of time it takes to sell a home depends on a variety of local market conditions, but homes appear to be sitting on the market longer in the vast majority of metros nationwide.
In the 100 most populous U.S. metros, only nine recorded faster home sales year over year and only one, Jackson, Mississippi, posted a double-digit drop of 10 days.
No state appears to be slowing down faster than North Carolina. All five of its metros in the top 100 added to their median days on market by double digits year over year. Raleigh posted the largest rise of any city with 30 days, and Durham followed close behind, tying for second with an additional 28 days.
Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
10 Slowest-Selling Metros
In the slowest-selling markets, the days of bidding wars and waived contingencies are over. Sellers are now facing price cuts, months of inventory, and median wait times that stretch well past 90 days.
Bars show median days on market. Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
Why These Markets Are Slow
Excess Inventory: Post-pandemic building booms and declining investor activity have created a surplus of inventory. These 10 markets average 6.1 months of supply, which is 1.5x more than the national median of 3.9 months.
Higher Carrying Costs: High insurance premiums in coastal cities and Texas' high property taxes add thousands in additional homeownership expenses.
Prices Outrun Incomes: Home prices have exceeded what local incomes can support, and higher interest rates are preventing buyers from splurging on expensive properties. Sellers are forced to adjust, with 23% of listings in these metros selling at a reduced price.
10 Fastest-Selling Metros
Although housing markets are cooling nationwide, there are pockets of real estate across the country that remain as hot as ever.
Bars show median days on market. Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
Why These Markets Are Fast
Tight Supply: The fastest-selling markets have two months of housing supply on average, well below the four to six months that is considered a balanced market. What's more, many of these cities face physical barriers, such as mountains, oceans, and lakes, that make building more homes extremely difficult. With so few homes available, buyers must purchase quickly or miss out.
The $700K Club: Typically, more expensive homes take longer to sell, but our data says otherwise. Of the top 10 metros with the highest list prices, four — San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego — are also in the top 10 fastest-selling markets. Buyers from these job hubs often earn high wages and can afford to pay premium prices.
Bars show median days on market. Pill values show median list price. Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
Affordable Northeast: Speedy home sales aren't just about wealth. The Northeast cities of Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Allentown all have a low inventory of homes listed below the national median that get snapped up by buyers priced out of more expensive coastal cities.
Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
All 50 States
Browse housing market data for every U.S. state. The table is sortable by any column and searchable by state name.
| State | Days on Market | DOM YoY | Off Market in 2 Weeks | Months of Supply | Inventory per 1K | Median List Price | Sold Above List Price | Price Drops |
|---|
Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
10 Slowest-Selling States
Slow markets aren't just a city problem. Across these 10 states, sellers are contending with increasing inventory, slow sales, and buyers that have more leverage.
Bars show median days on market. Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
10 Fastest-Selling States
From the crowded coastlines of the Northeast to the affordable heartland of the Midwest, the fastest-selling states share a common thread — there simply aren't enough homes to go around.
Bars show median days on market. Source: Best Interest Financial Cities Where It Takes the Longest to Sell Survey, February 2026.
Regional Spotlight
Rankings by Category
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- Among the 100 most populous U.S. cities, homes sell the slowest in Austin and the fastest in San Jose.
- Austin homes sit on the market for a median of 110 days, while homes are on the market for just 12 days in San Jose.
- In the 100 most populous metros, only nine recorded faster home sales year over year and only one, Jackson, Mississippi, posted a double-digit drop of 10 days.
- Raleigh's market has experienced the largest deceleration year over year, with homes now sitting on the market 30 days longer than they did in 2025.
- McAllen, Texas, has the largest surplus of homes, and it would take 10.4 months to sell all the available inventory. Rochester, New York, has the least amount of inventory, with just 1.3 months of supply.
- Despite a median list price of over a million dollars, 62% of San Francisco homes sold above the asking price — the highest percentage among all cities studied.
- Meanwhile, 35% of homes in North Port, Florida, sold at a reduced price.
- Among states, homes sell the slowest in Montana, spending 121 days on the market. They sell the fastest in Massachusetts, spending just 39 days on the market.
- Days on market increased the most year over year in North Carolina, where homes spend 24 more days on the market in 2026 than they did in 2025. Days on market decreased in only two states — West Virginia (3) and South Dakota (4).
- Hawaii has the most housing inventory with 8.4 months of supply, while Kansas has the least with just 2 months of supply.
Methodology
Data was collected from the Redfin Data Center. We collected data from the period beginning Feb. 1 to 28, 2026, on the 100 most populous metro areas in the U.S., as well as all 50 states, and selected data for all residential property types. Population data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2025 1-Year Estimates.
About Best Interest Financial
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About Clever
Since 2017, Clever Real Estate has been on a mission to make selling or buying a home easier and more affordable for everyone. 12 million annual readers rely on Clever's library of educational content and data-driven research to make smarter real estate decisions—and to date, Clever has helped consumers save more than $230 million on realtor fees. Clever's research has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, HousingWire, and many more.
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Read the study →FAQs
U.S. homes spend a median of 66 days on the market, but it can vary widely depending on local market conditions. Homes sell the fastest in San Jose, spending a median of 12 days on the market. Homes sell the slowest in Austin, where they linger on the market for a median of 110 days.
Homes sell the fastest in San Jose, spending a median of 12 days on the market. The second-fastest market is in San Francisco, where homes sell in a median of 14 days.
Homes sell the slowest in Austin, spending a median of 110 days on the market. The second-slowest market is in San Antonio, where homes linger on the market for 109 days.
Despite a median list price of over a million dollars, San Francisco sellers are the most likely to get more than they asked for. Approximately 62% of homes sell above listing price.