Earlier this month, in response to our reader poll about local cost-of-living trends, the most popular answer by far was: “In Atlanta, it’s getting harder and harder to get ahead.” But when it comes to home-buying, according to popular real estate marketplace Zillow, that might not reflect reality.

Zillow recently studied the 50 largest U.S. metros to determine which among them offers the most “buyer-friendly housing conditions” for 2026—and the Big Peach finished almost atop the stack, landing at No. 2. 

Only metro Indianapolis is more buyer-friendly right now, according to Zillow’s Market Heat Index. That analyzes city-specific home value upside, affordability relative to local incomes, and the amount of competition for existing homes. 

Alongside Miami (No. 8), metro Atlanta is by far the largest metro to rank among Zillow’s top 10 this year. 

Zillow

What’s working in Atlanta’s favor? Zillow’s analysts targeted three key themes: 

  1. Buyer-friendly markets are cooling off now but have upside in the future. (That tracks with a Homes.com report last year indicating metro Atlanta home prices were disproportionately lowering.)
  2. Monthly burdens are more affordable, following down payments of roughly 20 percent. (Metro Atlanta’s share of median household income needed for a typical mortgage payment—30.5 percent, per Zillow—isn’t as low as smaller markets but is considerably less than Miami’s 46.7 percent.)
  3. Factors such as days on market and share of listings with a price cut suggests less competition in metro Atlanta. (For better or worse).  

Zillow

Metros in the Midwest and Sun Belt took most top spots on Zillow’s 2026 ranking. Recent construction booms across the sunnier markets have helped ease competition and boost inventory, per the study.

Midwestern counterparts, meanwhile, generally didn't see the same degree of COVID-era price spikes. 

“The ranking is designed to highlight places where buyers are more likely to find a balanced mix of opportunity and sustainability—not just lower prices, but a friendlier overall buying experience,” notes a summary. “Buyers in these markets can expect to see more homes within budget, while forecasted appreciation suggests strong long-term financial potential.” 

The five lowest-ranking metros among the top 50 were, respectively: Seattle (No. 45), New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and lastly San Jose, where typical home prices of $1.54 million require nearly 63 percent—yikes—of median household incomes, per Zillow’s findings.  

Below is Zillow's top 10, at a glance: 

Zillow's top 10 ranking of buyer-friendly U.S. markets this year. Zillow

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• Reader poll: Is today's Atlanta unreasonably expensive? (Urbanize Atlanta)