Zillow Reveals Most Buyer-Friendly Housing Markets of 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3d ago
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Buyer-Friendly Markets: Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Charlotte are identified as the most buyer-friendly markets for 2026, where cooling prices combined with expected appreciation provide buyers with more options within budget while reducing competitive pressures.
- Reduced Buying Stress: With less competition, buyers in these markets have more time to make decisions and avoid stressful bidding wars, leading to a more relaxed home shopping experience.
- Affordability Metrics: In five of the top ten markets, a median household can afford a typical home, with mortgage payments below 30% of income, which presents a favorable opportunity for first-time homebuyers.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Zillow forecasts modest national home value growth in 2026, with mortgage rates expected to continue edging down toward 6% or lower, further stimulating home sales and enhancing market vitality.
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Analyst Views on Z
Wall Street analysts forecast Z stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for Z is 87.40 USD with a low forecast of 70.00 USD and a high forecast of 100.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 65.980
Low
70.00
Averages
87.40
High
100.00
Current: 65.980
Low
70.00
Averages
87.40
High
100.00
About Z
Zillow Group, Inc. helps people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences. The Company’s affiliates, subsidiaries, and brands include Zillow, Zillow Premier Agent, Zillow Home Loans, Zillow Rentals, Trulia, Out East, StreetEasy, HotPads, ShowingTime+, Spruce, and Follow Up Boss. It helps renters, buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals across all their residential real estate needs through its housing super app, which serves as an ecosystem of connected solutions for the tasks and services related to moving. It provides integrated transaction experience for movers through Zillow, its network of partners, its affiliated brands, and through a comprehensive suite of marketing software and technology solutions for the real estate industry, including ShowingTime+, Follow Up Boss and Spruce. It offers multifamily property managers a variety of advertising products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Zillow Launches New Campaign to Support Home Buyers
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- Market Adaptability: In response to economic uncertainty and affordability challenges, Zillow redefines the significance of browsing and planning in the home journey, encouraging users to view these actions as proactive signals of intent.
- Long-term Brand Strategy: This campaign will anchor Zillow's brand presence throughout 2026, with planned extensions into cultural moments across music, sports, and gaming, showcasing Zillow's understanding of brand leadership that prioritizes consumer emotional needs over mere transactions.
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