In the fastest markets, more than 1 in 3 homes is sold within a week. In the slowest cases, listings persist for months, according to the latest data from Zillow.
The U.S. housing market is splitting in two, with the highest priced homes selling within days, while others sit longer than they have in years. according to a new Zillow analysis.
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Nationally, 18.5 percent of homes were processed within seven days in February 2026. In the fastest markets like St. Louis; Hartford, Connecticut; and Seattle, more than 1 in 3 homes sold during that time period. On the other hand, Austin, Texas, had the smallest share of quick sales of any market, with only 2.7 percent of homes pending within seven days.
Homes that sold within a week were 2.6 times more likely to sell above asking price than the average listing price, the second-highest rate in Zillow’s data going back to 2018. In February, 44.3 percent of fast-selling homes closed above list price, compared to 17.1 percent of all homes.
The gap between homes sold and stagnant inventory widened in March to the widest point in March since 2020. The typical home sold went into processing in 19 days, while the average active listing had been on the market for 56 days – a gap of 37 days. That gap was just nine days in April 2022.
Zillow said the numbers reflect a market stabilizing toward pre-pandemic norms, with the pool of homes selling within a week shrinking, even as homes that sell quickly continue to receive strong offers.
Dr. Orphe Divounguy
“The cream of the crop is still selling fast, even in markets that have slowed significantly,” said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. “Desirability is ultimately a function of price, and getting the pricing strategy right from day one can mean the difference between a week on the market and months.”
In several Midwest markets, including St. Louis, Cincinnati and Kansas City, at least three in 10 homes sold within seven days. Sun Belt markets where inventory has been building, including Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and in Jacksonville, Florida, fewer than 1 in 10 homes sold within that time frame, Zillow found.
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