Affordability remains a barrier after the pandemic-era boom as home prices continue to rise and mortgage rates stay high.

The national online real estate research firm said Tuesday that it expects Buffalo to beat out 49 other cities in housing performance for 2025, after previously ranking it No. 1 a year ago for 2024.

These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates have increased this month, and it's unclear if they'll drop much this year.

Weekly mortgage rates went up this week, with the average 30-year mortgage rate hitting its highest point since May 2024. In the week ending Jan. 16, the average 30-year fixed-rate

Zillow currently reports that the strongest housing markets for sellers are in the Northeast. That includes multiple New York cities — Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and New York City — as well as metros in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The only non-Northeastern city considered a “strong seller’s market” is San Jose, California.