Wyoming, Montana and Alaska are among the U.S. states where homes are flying off the market the quickest, new research has shown.
A new study by ViewHomes has highlighted the states where properties are selling the fastest, with Montana at the top of the ranking, followed by Alaska and Wyoming in the top three. The analysis, based on over 150,000 property listings from Zillow, calculated the percentage of homes still on the market after 30 days. A lower percentage indicates a faster turnover, signaling high demand and limited supply in these regions.
Montana leads the ranking, with the majority of its homes selling quickly. The state's natural beauty, strong appeal to remote workers, and lower population density contribute to its desirability.
Alaska follows in second place, where fewer than 18 percent of homes remain unsold after 30 days. Wyoming rounds out the top three, with its tax benefits—such as no state income tax—and wide-open spaces attracting buyers.
Jo Ann Bauer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, told Newsweek: "I think if you examine the top three states where homes are selling the fastest—Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming—what you see is the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the housing market and shifting trends among homebuyers."
Bauer said that, during the height of the pandemic, moving out of congested cities and into areas "where you could get significantly more home for your money was a motivating factor for buyers."
Bauer added that remote work was a key factor in the continued demand for homes in these states. "Working remotely is still an option for many. Wide-open spaces, scenic landscapes, and a more-affordable cost of living continue to be a strong pull in the housing market and may be impacting the pace of home sales," she said.
Limited housing supply in these states also plays a role in the rapid turnover. "Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska are among the least-populated states in the nation. Subsequently, there are fewer homes available, and that has a direct impact on how quickly those homes sell. There is increased demand in these states, with very limited supply," Bauer said.
New Mexico and Louisiana also made the top five, with both states seeing homes sell faster than in much of the country. New Mexico, ranking fourth, has become increasingly attractive due to its affordability compared to neighboring states, as well as its vibrant arts scene and growing economy. Louisiana, in fifth place, benefits from its rich culture, relatively lower home prices and economic expansion in cities such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Casey TeVault, a licensed realtor and owner of Casey Buys Houses, said that a broader trend is influencing these rankings. "There has been a significant trend over the last few years of buyers moving out of suburban neighborhoods and into more rural ones, and that is exactly what the majority of this list reflects," TeVault told Newsweek.
He added that the combination of high demand and low inventory in rural areas has contributed to faster home sales. "The demand of buyers moving into these rural areas, where there aren't as many homes as in big cities or suburban neighborhoods, has created an imbalance in housing supply and buyer demand, making homes sell faster than they ever have," he said.
TeVault linked this shift to changing work patterns in the post-pandemic era. "This sort of transition was never possible when employees needed to live near their place of work; however, the post-pandemic trend of remote working has created new possibilities for families," he added.
At the other end of the spectrum, Rhode Island ranked last in the study, with 49 percent remaining on the market after 30 days. New Jersey followed closely behind, with high property taxes and cost of living potentially deterring buyers.
Massachusetts ranked 48th, despite Boston's competitive market, suggesting that high prices and limited inventory are slowing home sales.
Ranking of U.S. States With the Fastest-Selling Housing Markets
- Montana—15.60 percent (the percentage of properties listed for more than 30 days)
- Alaska—17.60 percent
- Wyoming—18.24 percent
- New Mexico—18.68 percent
- Louisiana—19.26 percent
- Mississippi—19.50 percent
- West Virginia—19.94 percent
- Vermont—20.24 percent
- North Dakota—20.88 percent
- Maine—21.45 percent
- South Dakota—21.63 percent
- Arkansas—22.05 percent
- Alabama—22.88 percent
- Missouri—23.29 percent
- Hawaii—23.43 percent
- Kentucky—23.65 percent
- Oregon—23.80 percent
- Wisconsin—23.88 percent
- Kansas—24.20 percent
- Iowa—24.73 percent
- North Carolina—24.75 percent
- Michigan—25.75 percent
- New York—25.92 percent
- Oklahoma—26.13 percent
- Pennsylvania—26.46 percent
- Florida—26.60 percent
- Indiana—26.84 percent
- Idaho—27.61 percent
- Utah—28.13 percent
- Colorado—28.31 percent
- Arizona—28.34 percent
- Tennessee—28.49 percent
- Texas—28.84 percent
- New Hampshire—29.32 percent
- South Carolina—29.53 percent
- Georgia—29.57 percent
- Delaware—29.73 percent
- Minnesota—29.85 percent
- Nebraska—30.21 percent
- Ohio—30.25 percent
- Illinois—30.46 percent
- Washington—30.95 percent
- Virginia—31.58 percent
- Nevada—31.78 percent
- California—33.85 percent
- Maryland—34.46 percent
- Connecticut—38.09 percent
- Massachusetts—38.20 percent
- New Jersey—39.68 percent
- Rhode Island—49.17 percent
Source: The ranking of the 50 states above is based on a study by ViewHomes, which analyzed over 150,000 property listings on Zillow, calculating the percentage of homes that remained on the market for more than 30 days.
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