Lots of active home goods flood the market, but there are certain metros where there aren’t enough listings, creating a seller’s market.
Realtor.com® economists have identified the 10 metros with the lowest delivery months as of October 2025.
The months to supply metric represents how many months it will take for all homes for sale on the market (including pending listings) to sell at the current sales pace.
Less than four months of supply usually means the market is headed for sellers.
“Commodities for sale continue to weaken in demand in these markets, keeping conditions strong in the seller’s market,” it said. Hannah Jonessenior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. “As more buyers compete for a limited number of homes, sellers retain greater power over prices and terms.”
Top seller market: Grand Rapids, MI.
“With the average buyer’s budget in Grand Rapids, homes are not available or sold as quickly as they are available,” a real estate agent. Ryan Brier of City Lights Home Buyers in Grand Rapids tells Realtor.com. “Inventory remains tight. Buyers make decisions quickly because they know inventory is low.”
Here are the top seller markets, as identified by Realtor.com economists:
Grand Rapids, MI
Median list price: $397,000
Offer months: 3
“The swing of bidding wars may not be as big as it was in 2021, but the market is still competitive here in Grand Rapids,” Brier said. “Coming up with a firm offer is key to winning a bid, but it doesn’t always depend on price. Having a firm offer can mean flexibility in the appraisal, or time after closing for the homeowner to move out. There are other ways to negotiate a firm offer.”
Brier says that in this market, you have to have a “need for speed” mentality. “If you don’t do that, you will end up competing with 11 other people who saw the house and want to do something,” he said.
Louis, MO
Median list price: $284,950
Months of supply: 3.1
“We’re in a seller’s market because of low inventory and high buyer demand, and we’re seeing bidding wars,” JT Monscheinpartner and listing specialist at The Monschein Group at Compass, tells Realtor.com. “Buyers have been adapting to our changing markets and understand with low inventory that they need to be aggressive with what they offer and stand out from their potential competitors.”
Monschein continues, “In many cases, buyers are still forgoing inspections or adjusting inspection times to stay competitive. For new homes on the market, buyers should expect to offer at or above list price, depending on demand and pricing strategy. Additional terms such as a security deposit are also used to solidify an offer.”
Milwaukee, WI
Median list price: $369,750
Months of supply: 3.1
“Currently, the Milwaukee housing market is still very strong, and inventory remains limited,” Justin Hoffmannreal estate agent with Team Hoffmann Re/Max Lakeside, tells Realtor.com. “There is a real shortage of homes coming on the market when consumer demand is still strong. Because of that limited supply, buyers are competing with relatively few options.”
Hoffman says the imbalance between strong demand and tight supply is causing bidding wars to resurface, especially for well-priced homes in desirable locations. “Multiple offers are becoming more and more common, and buyers must move quickly and deliver strong and clean offers to compete,” he says.
Hartford, CT
Median list price: $422,475
Months of supply: 3.3
Realtor.com has named the Hartford metro as the fastest growing market in the United States through 2026, with expected price growth of 17.1%.
Our economists note that Hartford has “strong inventory.” As of November 2025, Hartford’s active listings remained 74% below pre-pandemic levels.
San Jose, CA
Median listing price: $1,198,500
Months of supply: 3.4
“In San Jose, we are seeing activity pick up as more buyers are re-entering the market due to the recent drop in interest rates,” Alexander Kalareal estate agent at KW Bay Area Estates, tells Realtor.com. “Inventory has increased slightly, but there is still a large imbalance between supply and demand.”
Kalla says he recently listed in San Jose with more than 140 buyer groups at an open house, and sold during the week with multiple offers and above asking price. “Houses are selling fast, and the big buyers are competing again,” he says.
Virginia Beach, VA
Median listing price: $399,900
Months of supply: 3.5
Jones says many of these metros like Virginia Beach “remain very affordable and have attracted continued demand in recent years as home ownership has become increasingly out of reach in more expensive markets.”
Virginia Beach appeals especially to buyers who want to live on the beach without paying high prices.
Boston, MA
Median list price: $772,000
Months of supply: 3.5
“Boston remains one of the most depressed markets in the country,” George SarkisSarkis Group Managing Director at Douglas Elliman in Boston, tells Realtor.com. “Although interest rates have dampened some demand nationally, Boston’s fundamentals such as world-class universities, health care, biotech, and a strong affluent buyer pool continue to create consistent pressure on available inventory. The result is a market that favors sellers, especially for well-priced, turnkey properties.”
“Consumers are coming more prepared than ever,” said Sarkis. “They get fully written pre-approvals, review disclosures in advance, and in many cases make quick decisions to stay competitive. There’s little room for doubt. Buyers who try to ‘wait and see’ often miss out. We’re also seeing more flexibility in closing timelines for vendor acceptance.”
Indianapolis, IN
Median listing price: $309,974
Months of supply: 3.6
Home buyers are increasingly turning to Indianapolis, drawn by its affordability. But Jones says increased interest in low-cost markets means “asset growth has struggled to keep pace.”
Cincinnati, OH
Median list price: $329,950
Months of supply: 3.6
“Cincinnati homes that are reasonably priced and look great are selling fast,” a real estate agent Scott Oyler, of Coldwell Banker in Cincinnati, tells Realtor.com. “Just in the past week, I listed three homes, two of which received multiple offers and sold at list price with terms favorable to the seller.”
Oyler says it’s a good time to sell: “There’s less competition in the market so your listing stands out.”
San Francisco, CA
Median list price: $872,000
Months of supply: 3.6
Real estate agentYing Heof BarbCo in San Francisco, tells Realtor.com, “The market is very hot, with a huge imbalance between supply and demand. Bidding wars are common, and many properties sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking.”
He says, “Buyers had a better hand in the last two years, but that advantage is gone. Today’s market demands that buyers act quickly and bid aggressively just to stay in business. Home ownership is once again a very competitive race.”
