Construction Coverage has released the 2026 edition of the hottest real estate markets in the U.S., revealing where demand is still surging despite a national slowdown. While home sales are down 8.3% year-over-year and price growth has cooled to just 1.1%, certain markets—especially in the Northeast—remain highly competitive, with homes selling quickly and often above asking. The analysis ranks markets using key indicators like price growth, days on market, and bidding activity to show where buyers are still facing intense competition heading into the spring housing season.

As the spring housing market ramps up, many buyers aren’t just facing high prices and mortgage rates—they’re also inheriting older homes with higher maintenance costs. A new analysis from Construction Coverage found the median age of U.S. homes has climbed to 43 years, as years of underbuilding continue to reshape the market. The report ranks metros and states with the oldest housing stock, highlighting where buyers are most likely to encounter costly repairs, renovations, and energy inefficiencies.

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the fastest-growing home prices in New Hampshire using data from Zillow.

As overall inflation cools, rent continues to be the biggest factor keeping household costs elevated nationwide. A new analysis from Construction Coverage breaks down which U.S. cities and states now have the highest median rents, using the latest HUD and Census data across more than 380 metros and all 50 states. The findings help explain why many renters aren’t feeling relief despite rising vacancy rates and slowing rent growth. The full study includes state and metro comparisons that show where housing affordability pressures remain most acute—and where rent costs are diverging sharply from national trends.