Zillow Reveals Most Buyer-Friendly Housing Markets of 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy Z?
Source: PRnewswire
- Buyer-Friendly Markets: Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Charlotte are identified as the most buyer-friendly markets for 2026, where cooling prices combined with expected appreciation provide buyers with more options within budget while reducing competitive pressures.
- Reduced Buying Stress: With less competition, buyers in these markets have more time to make decisions and avoid stressful bidding wars, leading to a more relaxed home shopping experience.
- Affordability Metrics: In five of the top ten markets, a median household can afford a typical home, with mortgage payments below 30% of income, which presents a favorable opportunity for first-time homebuyers.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Zillow forecasts modest national home value growth in 2026, with mortgage rates expected to continue edging down toward 6% or lower, further stimulating home sales and enhancing market vitality.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy Z?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on Z
Wall Street analysts forecast Z stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for Z is 87.40 USD with a low forecast of 70.00 USD and a high forecast of 100.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 54.970
Low
70.00
Averages
87.40
High
100.00
Current: 54.970
Low
70.00
Averages
87.40
High
100.00
About Z
Zillow Group, Inc. helps people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences. The Company’s affiliates, subsidiaries, and brands include Zillow, Zillow Premier Agent, Zillow Home Loans, Zillow Rentals, Trulia, Out East, StreetEasy, HotPads, ShowingTime+, Spruce, and Follow Up Boss. It helps renters, buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals across all their residential real estate needs through its housing super app, which serves as an ecosystem of connected solutions for the tasks and services related to moving. It provides integrated transaction experience for movers through Zillow, its network of partners, its affiliated brands, and through a comprehensive suite of marketing software and technology solutions for the real estate industry, including ShowingTime+, Follow Up Boss and Spruce. It offers multifamily property managers a variety of advertising products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
High-Volume Earnings Reports This Week from Tech and Consumer Sectors
- Earnings Schedule: This week features a high volume of earnings reports from technology, consumer discretionary, and energy sectors, with RIVN stock showing notable movement ahead of its earnings release, indicating investor sentiment.
- Monday.com and Pagaya Reports: On Monday, work management SaaS provider Monday.com and fintech company Pagaya released their earnings before the market opened, with expectations that their results will reflect broader industry trends.
- Coinbase Earnings Expectations: On Thursday, Coinbase is expected to report earnings of 68 cents per share and quarterly revenue of $1.86 billion, despite facing a projected 33% drop in transaction revenue, raising investor interest in its growing stablecoin and subscription services.
- Nebius Group Forecast: Also on Thursday, Nebius Group is projected to report a loss of $1.14 per share and revenue of $246.05 million, with analysts expressing caution, reflecting concerns over cloud service demand in the current market environment.
See More
Oversold Stocks in Real Estate Sector Present Buying Opportunities
- Oversold Stock Overview: Stocks in the real estate sector with an RSI below 30 are considered oversold, presenting opportunities to invest in undervalued companies, particularly during market fluctuations.
- Zillow Group Performance: Zillow Group has an RSI of 26.7, with its stock price falling approximately 21% over the past month and hitting a 52-week low of $53.61, indicating potential for a short-term rebound.
- Stock Price Dynamics: Despite a 1.8% increase in Zillow's stock price to close at $54.97 on Friday, its overall performance remains under market pressure, prompting investors to watch for its upcoming earnings report.
- Market Trend Analysis: As the real estate market fluctuates, investors should focus on the rebound opportunities of oversold stocks, utilizing the RSI indicator to assess short-term investment potential.
See More
Movers: Hims & Hers, Novo Nordisk, Micron, Kroger, STMicroelectronics, Nvidia, and Others
- Stock Market Trends: Stock futures were declining on Monday as investors expressed concerns about the sustainability of a recent relief rally.
- Investor Sentiment: There is a prevailing uncertainty among investors regarding the market's ability to maintain upward momentum following last week's gains.
See More
Compass Antitrust Lawsuit Against Zillow Progresses
- Antitrust Lawsuit Background: Compass alleges that Zillow employs 'anticompetitive tactics' to ban listings not posted to local MLS within 24 hours, affecting 1,202 listings, of which 1,137 belong to Compass, indicating Zillow's market control.
- Policy Enforcement: Under Zillow's Listing Access Standards (LAS), the company removed 48 listings in 2025, with 43 being from Compass, directly impacting Compass's market engagement and brand value, leading to reluctance among agents and home sellers to collaborate with Compass.
- Judge's Ruling Impact: U.S. District Judge Jeanette Vargas denied Compass's request to temporarily block Zillow's policy, stating that Zillow's policies do not preclude meaningful new entrants, and despite Zillow's potential 50%-66% market share, Compass failed to provide sufficient evidence of Zillow's monopoly power.
- Market Reaction: Following the judge's ruling, Zillow's shares rose nearly 4% in midday trading on Friday, while Compass's stock showed weakness, reflecting increased market confidence in Zillow and a bearish sentiment towards Compass.
See More
Compass Loses Bid to Block Zillow's Listing Ban Policy
- Legal Proceedings Update: Compass's request to temporarily block a portion of Zillow's listing ban policy was denied by US District Judge Jeannette Vargas, indicating challenges in its legal fight against the antitrust lawsuit.
- Market Competition Strategy: Compass aims to build a private listings network that encourages sellers to market properties through its agents before posting them on public platforms, a strategy designed to enhance its competitive position and reduce reliance on Zillow.
- Antitrust Lawsuit Context: In June 2025, Compass sued Zillow, alleging that it and its allies are illegally steering all US home listings to Zillow's platform to protect its monopoly and profit from each listing, highlighting fierce competition within the industry.
- Zillow's Market Position: Despite Compass's failed request, Zillow can continue to block certain listings while the antitrust lawsuit proceeds, indicating that its dominant market position remains intact, which may exert ongoing pressure on Compass's business.
See More
Zillow Group Inc Secures $500 Million Revolving Credit Facility, According to SEC Filing
- Credit Agreement: ZILLOW GROUP INC has entered into a credit agreement providing a $500 million revolving facility.
- Purpose of Facility: The facility is intended for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions and other financial needs.
See More
High-Volume Earnings Reports This Week from Tech and Consumer Sectors
- Earnings Schedule: This week features a high volume of earnings reports from technology, consumer discretionary, and energy sectors, with RIVN stock showing notable movement ahead of its earnings release, indicating investor sentiment.
- Monday.com and Pagaya Reports: On Monday, work management SaaS provider Monday.com and fintech company Pagaya released their earnings before the market opened, with expectations that their results will reflect broader industry trends.
- Coinbase Earnings Expectations: On Thursday, Coinbase is expected to report earnings of 68 cents per share and quarterly revenue of $1.86 billion, despite facing a projected 33% drop in transaction revenue, raising investor interest in its growing stablecoin and subscription services.
- Nebius Group Forecast: Also on Thursday, Nebius Group is projected to report a loss of $1.14 per share and revenue of $246.05 million, with analysts expressing caution, reflecting concerns over cloud service demand in the current market environment.
See More
Oversold Stocks in Real Estate Sector Present Buying Opportunities
- Oversold Stock Overview: Stocks in the real estate sector with an RSI below 30 are considered oversold, presenting opportunities to invest in undervalued companies, particularly during market fluctuations.
- Zillow Group Performance: Zillow Group has an RSI of 26.7, with its stock price falling approximately 21% over the past month and hitting a 52-week low of $53.61, indicating potential for a short-term rebound.
- Stock Price Dynamics: Despite a 1.8% increase in Zillow's stock price to close at $54.97 on Friday, its overall performance remains under market pressure, prompting investors to watch for its upcoming earnings report.
- Market Trend Analysis: As the real estate market fluctuates, investors should focus on the rebound opportunities of oversold stocks, utilizing the RSI indicator to assess short-term investment potential.
See More
Movers: Hims & Hers, Novo Nordisk, Micron, Kroger, STMicroelectronics, Nvidia, and Others
- Stock Market Trends: Stock futures were declining on Monday as investors expressed concerns about the sustainability of a recent relief rally.
- Investor Sentiment: There is a prevailing uncertainty among investors regarding the market's ability to maintain upward momentum following last week's gains.
See More
Compass Antitrust Lawsuit Against Zillow Progresses
- Antitrust Lawsuit Background: Compass alleges that Zillow employs 'anticompetitive tactics' to ban listings not posted to local MLS within 24 hours, affecting 1,202 listings, of which 1,137 belong to Compass, indicating Zillow's market control.
- Policy Enforcement: Under Zillow's Listing Access Standards (LAS), the company removed 48 listings in 2025, with 43 being from Compass, directly impacting Compass's market engagement and brand value, leading to reluctance among agents and home sellers to collaborate with Compass.
- Judge's Ruling Impact: U.S. District Judge Jeanette Vargas denied Compass's request to temporarily block Zillow's policy, stating that Zillow's policies do not preclude meaningful new entrants, and despite Zillow's potential 50%-66% market share, Compass failed to provide sufficient evidence of Zillow's monopoly power.
- Market Reaction: Following the judge's ruling, Zillow's shares rose nearly 4% in midday trading on Friday, while Compass's stock showed weakness, reflecting increased market confidence in Zillow and a bearish sentiment towards Compass.
See More
Compass Loses Bid to Block Zillow's Listing Ban Policy
- Legal Proceedings Update: Compass's request to temporarily block a portion of Zillow's listing ban policy was denied by US District Judge Jeannette Vargas, indicating challenges in its legal fight against the antitrust lawsuit.
- Market Competition Strategy: Compass aims to build a private listings network that encourages sellers to market properties through its agents before posting them on public platforms, a strategy designed to enhance its competitive position and reduce reliance on Zillow.
- Antitrust Lawsuit Context: In June 2025, Compass sued Zillow, alleging that it and its allies are illegally steering all US home listings to Zillow's platform to protect its monopoly and profit from each listing, highlighting fierce competition within the industry.
- Zillow's Market Position: Despite Compass's failed request, Zillow can continue to block certain listings while the antitrust lawsuit proceeds, indicating that its dominant market position remains intact, which may exert ongoing pressure on Compass's business.
See More
Zillow Group Inc Secures $500 Million Revolving Credit Facility, According to SEC Filing
- Credit Agreement: ZILLOW GROUP INC has entered into a credit agreement providing a $500 million revolving facility.
- Purpose of Facility: The facility is intended for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions and other financial needs.
See More
