A new study conducted by real estate advisors Calgaryhomes.ca has uncovered the U.S. cities where it is easiest to sell a home. The research examined listings in U.S. cities on Zillow between December 2023 and December 2024. The average number of listings per month was calculated across the year, as well as the average number of sales made. These were compared against each other to determine the percentage of listings sold and ranked according to easiest to hardest locations to sell. Further information was sourced from the site on how long it took to close a property.
“These results show just how diverse the real estate markets can be across the United States,” said a spokesperson from Calgaryhomes.ca. “While there’s a variety of factors that go into how quickly homes sell–affordability, demand, and regional economic conditions for example-the results of the study are very interesting.”
The study reveals that Rochester, New York, is the best city for selling your house, with 59.2% of listings sold. Across last year, there were approximately 1,536 listings per month, with 910 of these resulting in sales. As of the most recent data from Zillow in November, the average house price in Rochester was $217,400–significantly lower than the statewide average of $481,900.
Ranking second easiest for sellers is Allentown, Pennsylvania, with 57.4% of houses sold. Zillow’s latest report states the average home value currently stands at $285,683 in the region, with 46.5% of listings selling over the listed price and 36.9% below as of late October last year.
Placing third is Grand Rapids, Michigan, where 56.6% of listings last year were sold. Over the past year, the median number of listings per month stood at 2,101, with around 1,188 of these sold. Presently, the average home value stands at $271,900, representing a 4.4% increase from the same period last year.
Hartford, Connecticut, ranks fourth. Here, 55% of listings sold over the year, with the current house value at $178,600–significantly lower than the state’s average of $406,700. On average, buyers took 36 days to close a deal, with a median sale price of $242,300 as of last October.
In fifth place is Richmond, Virginia, with 52.3% of listings sold last year. The average home value in the city stands at $352,700, though certain neighborhoods like Midlothian and Beaufont offer more affordable options.
Ranking sixth is Cincinnati, Ohio, with 50.6% of listings sold last year. The state’s average house value is $227,700, but Cincinnati’s is slightly higher at $233,800–potentially attracting buyers by offering affordability paired with urban amenities.
Next in line are San Jose, California, in seventh, and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. In the Californian city, 50% of all listings were sold last year, with Washington, D.C.’s rate being 48.1%. Both places are on the more expensive side of the list, with San Jose’s average home value being $1.4 million and Washington, D.C.’s being $603,700.
Finishing off the list are Worcester, Massachusetts, with 47.24% of listings sold, and Greensboro, North Carolina, with 47.22% of homes sold.
“In cities like Rochester and Allentown, the combination of lower home values and high buyer demand creates a favorable seller’s market,” added the Calgaryhomes.ca spokesperson. “Higher priced properties may still sell, but most of the cities on this list are clearly attracting buyers because they are more affordable. Many potential homebuyers have felt the sharp jump in house prices since the pandemic, which hasn’t made anywhere exactly ‘affordable,’ but there are certainly places that require lower deposits and smaller mortgages than elsewhere.”
In the same states, other cities like New York City or Pittsburgh could face challenges due to affordability concerns. Interestingly though, Washington, D.C. and San Jose stand out as some of the easiest locations to sell property, highlighting the influence of wealthy individuals investing in and relocating to these areas who are more readily able to buy property outright.
Visit Calgaryhomes.ca for more detailed analysis of the nation’s markets where its easiest to sell a home in the U.S.
