This winter wonderland was one of the hottest housing markets for June: See the list
Interest rates impact to housing market
The Federal Reserve has left interest rates unchanged, a move that could impact the housing market and potential homebuyers.
A pair of midsize Northeastern metro areas are drawing some of the strongest homebuyer interest in the country, as relatively affordable prices and tight inventories continue to fuel competition.
Realtor.com ranked markets based on buyer demand in the area, which was measured by unique views per listing, along with the number of days the listing remained active online.
The findings were published in the real estate company’s June 2026 Hottest Housing Markets ranking.
Hartford and Erie take top spots
Big picture view:
Hartford, Connecticut retained its status as the nation's hottest market for the second straight month.
Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones said the surging demand and swift market pace reflect Hartford's highly restricted supply of for-sale homes and more buyer-friendly conditions compared with its larger and pricier neighbors.
More surprisingly, Erie, Pennsylvania, nicknamed "Gem City" for the glittering waters of its Lake Erie harbor, claimed the No. 2 spot. Erie's rapid ascent includes climbing 12 spots over the past year and surging 17 spots since May.
The Presque Isle Lighthouse During Winter at Presque Isle State Park in Erie. (Credit: Getty Images)
In June, Erie homes attracted 3.3 times the national average number of views per property. Listings spent a median of 29 days on the market – matching Hartford and selling six days faster than a year earlier. By comparison, the typical U.S. home remained on the market for 53 days.
The waterfront community of 91,000, known as the epicenter of the dramatic lake-effect snow weather that routinely turns Erie into a winter wonderland.
Affordability also continues to be a major draw for buyers.
The median listing price in Erie was $239,000 in June, roughly $200,000 below the national median and about half the median price in Hartford. Among the nation's 20 hottest housing markets, only Binghamton, New York, posted a lower median listing price at $227,000.
Erie, Pennsylvania, downtown on the bayfront at dusk. (Credit: Getty Images)
"Affordability makes Erie so attractive to buyers," Fred Amendola, an agent with Keller Williams Flagship Realty, told Realtor.com. "Some folks from the area may not think so, but those coming back from other areas or moving here see the difference."
And while affordability is attracting buyers, a lack of available homes is intensifying competition.
Housing inventory in Erie declined just over 1% from a year ago and remains 74% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
"The hotness in Erie is largely fueled by significant inventory scarcity," Jones continued. "While other markets have seen some progress in inventory availability, Erie continues to see falling levels of for-sale listings. As a result, the market continues to heat up relative to the rest of the country."
Median listing prices fell 2.5% year over year in June, while pending home sales increased for a seventh consecutive month.
June 2026: Top hottest housing markets
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Erie, Pennsylvania
- Norwich, Connecticut
- Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Waterbury, Connecticut
See the full report here.
Buyers seeking affordability
Dig deeper:
The latest rankings underscore the continued strength of Northeastern and Midwestern housing markets. Those two regions accounted for all 20 of the hottest markets in June, with the Northeast claiming 16 spots and the Midwest taking the remaining four.
RELATED: Best cities for first-time home buyers revealed
The rankings also come at a time when first-time buyers are facing growing obstacles.
According to recently WalletHub data, first-time purchasers accounted for just 21% of the housing market last year, well below the historical average of 40%.
Last week, the average rate on a long-term U.S. mortgage moved closer to 6.5%, increasing borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers.
RELATED: Mortgage rates are climbing: What homebuyers need to know
Mortgage rates have remained elevated after the average rate on a 30-year loan briefly dropped below 6% in February for the first time since late 2022. It then climbed in May to its highest level in nine months. The uptick in mortgage rates has weighed on home sales this year.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by Realtor.com. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting contributed.