U.S. housing markets demonstrate strong demand in February 2025
- Hartford, Connecticut; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Kenosha, Wisconsin were identified as the hottest housing markets.
- These markets demonstrated quick sales with homes spending less than 40 days on average before being sold.
- The robust demand suggests a significant interest in home ownership in the U.S. housing market.
In February 2025, various housing markets across the United States exhibited heightened activity and demand, as indicated by a report from Realtor.com. The cities of Hartford, Connecticut; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Kenosha, Wisconsin emerged as the top three hottest housing markets for the month. Each market was assessed based on unique property views and the duration listings remained active. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford held an impressive position, with homes showing a median sale duration of only 38 days, while achieving 4.2 times more views than the national average. Manchester-Nashua showed a similar trend, characterized by a median of 39 days for home listings, as well as drawing 3.5 times the number of unique views compared to the national median. Furthermore, sellers in this area displayed relative restraint; only 9.9% reduced their home prices, indicating a robust demand among buyers. Kenosha's market saw properties fetch a median price of $338,000, with homes typically being sold after 36 days on the market. The city's location, just north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border and situated along Lake Michigan, likely contributed to its appeal. In addition to the top three markets, Rockford, Illinois, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania also featured prominently in the rankings. Rockford's market leapt four spots from January, becoming the third hottest market in February, where homes were viewed 2.5 times more frequently than the national median. Lancaster had homes selling after a median period of 37 days, with a listing price of around $425,000. The overall trend within these markets indicated an average price increase of 0.9% compared to the previous year. Interestingly, while some of these markets saw substantial demand, most properties still maintained prices below the national median of $412,000. This was evident since the time to sell in these competitive markets ranged significantly less than the nationwide average, underscoring the strong buyer interest and quick turnaround times for listings. Buyers and sellers alike continue to navigate these findings as they relate to the broader landscape of home ownership, a core aspect of the American dream. As the year unfolds, around 15% of Americans expressed intentions to purchase homes, reflecting sustained interest in the housing sector.