With steep competition to find a home in the new year, these cities offer affordable options for buyers in the housing market.

Providence continues to be one of the hottest real estate markets in the country, as the state is in the grip of a housing crisis. In a Zillow ranking released on Tuesday, Providence and its metro area ranked as the third hottest market in the country,

While the national housing supply recently reached a four-year high, buying a home in some U.S. cities may be especially difficult in 2025, a new Zillow report suggests. To make its predictions, Zillow reviewed multiple factors — including how quickly homes have been selling,

Hartford, Conn., was also forecasted to be among the top markets by the real estate listing website, but Boston ranked 16th among the 50 metro areas compared.

Charlotte held the highest rank among Southern markets on Zillow's list. Richmond, Virginia, also appeared among the top 10, ranking at No. 9. Raleigh, the only other North or South Carolina metro in the analysis, ranked at No. 21 — down four spots from last year.

For the second year in a row, Buffalo has topped Zillow’s annual list of hottest housing markets. Zillow Group Inc. (NASDAQ: ZG) recently released its 2025 hottest housing markets list, which analyzes the nation’s 50 largest metro areas. The Queen City ranked first, followed by Indianapolis and Providence, Rhode Island, respectively.

The National Association of Realtors named Greenville, South Carolina, as a top housing market. Agent Nick Carlson explains affordability and migration.

With steep competition to find a home in the new year, these cities offer affordable options for buyers in the housing market.