In the fastest markets, more than 1 in 3 homes sell within a week. In the slowest cases, listings can be left unlisted for months, according to the latest data from Zillow.
The U.S. housing market is split into two, according to a new analysis from Zillow. The most expensive homes sell within days, while others remain unsold for several years.
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Nationally, 18.5% of homes went on hold within seven days of February 2026. The fastest markets, like St. Louis, had 18.5% of homes on hold. Hartford, Connecticut. In Seattle, more than 1 in 3 homes sold in that time period. Meanwhile, Austin, Texas, had the smallest share of instant sales among the markets tracked, with 2.7% of homes on hold within seven days.
Homes that sold within a week were 2.6 times more likely to sell for above asking price than regular properties, the second-highest multiple going back to 2018, according to Zillow data. In February, 44.3% of rush-sale homes sold for more than list price, compared to 17.1% of all homes.
The gap between sold homes and stagnant inventory widened in March, the widest for any March since 2020. The average sold home was on the market for 19 days, while active homes were on the market for a median of 56 days, a difference of 37 days. By April 2022, the gap had narrowed to nine days.
Zillow said the numbers reflect the market stabilizing toward pre-pandemic norms, with the group of homes selling within a week shrinking, even though fast-selling homes still attract strong offers.
Dr. Orpheus Divongay
“Even in a market that has slowed significantly, high-end products are still selling rapidly,” said Orpheus Divongi, senior economist at Zillow. “Ultimately, demand is driven by price, and having the right pricing strategy from day one can be the difference between being on the market in a week or months.”
In several Midwestern markets, including St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Kansas City, at least 3 in 10 homes sold within seven days. Sunbelt markets such as Austin, Texas, where inventory is piling up. San Antonio, Texas. Charlotte, North Carolina. In Jacksonville, Florida, fewer than 1 in 10 homes sold during that time period, Zillow found.
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