Relief for homebuyers is on the horizon in 2026.
Zillow analyzed 50 of the largest US metros and found that 20 of them will become affordable by the end of 2026. The company defined “affordable” as mortgage payments not exceeding 30% of the median household income.
Although affordability is improving across the US, Zillow senior economist Kara Ng told Business Insider that buyers may not feel it in already expensive markets, like Seattle, for example.
“The typical household buying a typical home in Seattle is going to spend 47% of their income on monthly payments,” Ng told Business Insider. “We expect them to spend from 47% down to 45% over the next year. So that’s an improvement in affordability, but it’s a very different starting place.”
The Midwest has reclaimed its spot as the most affordable region of the country, taking up nearly half of the list, while the Sun Belt, once established as the hottest place to be, sees a slight exodus.
“The Midwest markets generally avoided the steepest pandemic-era price run ups — so if they were affordable, they’re probably still affordable now,” Ng said. “For the Sun Belt, what happened was that everyone wanted to go to the Sun Belt. They wanted outdoor living, they wanted sun, they wanted relatively affordable prices, so prices really shot up.”
While pretty much every market will experience some improvement in affordability, that doesn’t necessarily mean home prices are going down. Prices are essentially staying put nationwide, Ng said, but with mortgage rates decreasing and incomes steadily increasing, buyers in 2026 will have $30,000 in additional buying power versus 2025.
Here are 20 metros that Zillow expects to reach the affordable threshold in 2026.
20. Atlanta, GA
Zillow Home Value Index: $374,477
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,473
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 30.6%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 29.9%
19. Chicago, IL
Zillow Home Value Index: $336,642
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,404
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 30.4%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 29.7%
18. Raleigh, NC
Zillow Home Value Index: $429,840
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,719
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 30.4%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 29.6%
17. Columbus, OH
Zillow Home Value Index: $319,035
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,188
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 30%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 29.5%
16. Kansas City, MO
Zillow Home Value Index: $312,751
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,161
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 29.4%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 28.9%
15. Houston, TX
Zillow Home Value Index: $303,084
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,119
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 29.8%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 28.8%
14. Minneapolis, MN
Zillow Home Value Index: $377,251
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,562
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 30%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 28.7%
13. Baltimore, MD
Zillow Home Value Index: $391,913
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,522
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 29.3%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 28.2%
12. Cincinnati, OH
Zillow Home Value Index: $297,209
Monthly mortgage cost: $2,034
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 28.6%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 28.1%
11. Cleveland, OH
Zillow Home Value Index: $238,517
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,723
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 28.1%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 27.7%
10. San Antonio, TX
Zillow Home Value Index: $274,336
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,983
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 28.9%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 27.7%
9. Memphis, TN
Zillow Home Value Index: $239,011
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,647
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 27.7%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 26.9%
8. Indianapolis, IN
Zillow Home Value Index: $284,684
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,874
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 27%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 26.6%
7. Louisville, KY
Zillow Home Value Index: $270,246
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,759
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 27.2%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 26.4%
6. Buffalo, NY
Zillow Home Value Index: $272,868
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,675
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 26.6%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 26.3%
5. Oklahoma City, OK
Zillow Home Value Index: $239,880
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,725
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 26.9%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 26.3%
4. Detroit, MI
Zillow Home Value Index: $256,357
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,739
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 26.1%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 25.5%
3. St. Louis, MO
Zillow Home Value Index: $263,846
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,841
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 25.9%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 25.2%
2. Birmingham, AL
Zillow Home Value Index: $251,913
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,599
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 24.2%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 23.3%
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Zillow Home Value Index: $218,845
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,519
Share of median household income spent on mortgage: 22.3%
Expected affordability by end of 2026: 21.4%
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