15 Most Competitive Housing Markets in the U.S.

The housing market has been showing some signs of slowing, but conditions are still competitive in many areas of the country.

Aurora, Colorado Compete score: 90 (out of 100) The suburb of Denver is on the east side of the city and is likely benefitting from the Denver area’s growth.

Fremont, California Compete score: 90 How competitive is Fremont? About 80% of homes are selling above list price, with purchase prices coming in at an average of 8% over list.

Spokane, Washington Compete score: 90 Located in eastern Washington state, Spokane has seen growth in its population during recent decades. That has led to a tightening housing market, which has created challenges for potential homeowners.

San Jose, California Compete score: 88 The median price for a home in San Jose was almost $1.4 million in June and nearly 74% of homes sold above the listing price.

Tacoma, Washington Compete score: 88 As with other cities in Washington, the competition for homes has been fierce in Tacoma. The median home price in June was $505,000.

Modesto, California Compete score: 87 The median home price in Modesto during June was $450,000, up almost 10% compared to a year earlier.

Richmond, Virginia Compete score: 86 The capital of Virginia has seen an increase in residents after a significant dip beginning in the 1970s. That may be one factor for its high compete score.

Chula Vista, California Compete score: 85 Just south of San Diego is Chula Vista, where homes are on the market for an average of 11 days.

Denver, Colorado Compete score: 85 Denver has been growing in population for several decades, which may be putting a strain on the housing market in this city. The median number of days on the market in June was just five.

Omaha, Nebraska Compete score: 85 Omaha homebuyers may enjoy the fact that the median home price was $265,000, which is lower than other cities on this list. But that’s still up sharply over the past five years.

Seattle, Washington Compete score: 85 Seattle is struggling to keep up with the demand for housing, with the typical house staying on the market for a median six days in June. That is actually one day less compared to the same month a year ago.

Sacramento, California Compete score: 84 Those shopping for a home in Sacramento may have caught a bit of a break: Homes were on the market for a median of nine days in June, which is up two days compared to the same time last year.

Colorado Springs, Colorado Compete score: 83 Home prices in Colorado Springs are more than 8% higher compared to a year ago. The typical home sells for a median price of $465,000 and is on the market for 12 days.

Lincoln, Nebraska Compete score: 83 The typical home in Lincoln is on the market for a median of six days, which actually is up one day from last year.

San Diego, California Compete score: 83 San Diego is not cheap for homebuyers, with a median price of $910,000 in June. Despite such high prices, just over 59% of homes in the city sold above the asking price in June, with the average home sitting on the market for 11 days.

In a competitive housing market, particularly in the most competitive housing areas in the U.S., it can be challenging to have your offer accepted for a home. If you want to avoid the financial strain of a bidding war, that is terrible news.