Affordability remains a barrier after the pandemic-era boom as home prices continue to rise and mortgage rates stay high.

The national online real estate research firm said Tuesday that it expects Buffalo to beat out 49 other cities in housing performance for 2025, after previously ranking it No. 1 a year ago for 2024.

Zillow currently reports that the strongest housing markets for sellers are in the Northeast. That includes multiple New York cities — Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and New York City — as well as metros in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The only non-Northeastern city considered a “strong seller’s market” is San Jose, California.