Market report · NY

Buffalo, NY

Balanced's market

Buffalo's market is in transition: +3.7% YoY, median DOM 11 days. Selective deals only.

DATA · Zillow Research (via scrape.do) · AS OF APRIL 2026

$241k
Typical home value
↑16.0%
+3.7%
YoY change
$1,390
Median rent
↑11.5%
6.91%
Gross yield
11
Median DOM
55/100
MDR score
Detail Value Detail Value
Median list price $219,300 Median sale price $230,750
Sale-to-list ratio 1.008 % sold below list +33.4%
Active inventory 671 New listings 296
Trends · 36-month series

How Buffalo has moved.

Typical home value $208k → $241k · ↑16.0% (36mo)
$208k $219k $230k $241k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median rent (ZORI) $1k → $1k · ↑11.5% (36mo)
$1k $1k $1k $1k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median days on market 22d → 11d · ↓48.5% (36mo)
11d 15d 18d 22d Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26
Sale-to-list ratio 1.020 → 1.008 · ↓1.2% (36mo)
1.008 1.012 1.016 1.020 Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26

Buffalo sits at a median home value of $241,380 as of the latest Zillow read, up 3.7% year-over-year — still in appreciation mode, which favors flippers willing to compete on speed.

The sale-to-list ratio of 1.008 signals a balanced market — neither bid wars nor fire sales dominate. 33.4% of closings land below list, leaving room to negotiate on the right deal but no broad discount across the board.

Rents tell a stronger story. The Zillow Observed Rent Index for Buffalo is $1,390/mo against a $241k median — that’s a 6.91% gross annual rent yield, well above the national 4-5% baseline. BRRRR and long-term rental strategies have real cushion here.

Median days-on-market is running around 11 days against 671 active listings — that’s a fast-moving market. Speed is the moat; pre-arranged proof of funds and a tight buyers list are the difference between getting under contract and getting outbid.

MDR’s composite investor score for Buffalo is 55/100 based on rent yield, sale-to-list discount, motivated-seller proxies, and DOM. Lower tier this quarter. Watch list, not deploy list — re-evaluate next read.

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FAQ

Buffalo for investors.

Is Buffalo a good market for real estate investors in 2026?

Metro Deal Report's composite investor score for Buffalo is 55/100, based on rent yield, sale-to-list ratio, motivated-seller proxies, and days on market. Buffalo is a lower-tier market right now. Watch list, not deploy list, until the numbers shift.

What is the median home price in Buffalo?

The typical home value in Buffalo as of the most recent Zillow read is $241,380. Median list price is $219,300 and median sale price is $230,750. Year-over-year change: +3.7%.

What can a landlord expect to rent a property for in Buffalo?

Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Buffalo is $1,390/mo. Against the typical home value of $241k, that produces a gross annual rent yield of 6.91% — above the national 4-5% baseline, supportive of BRRRR and long-term rental strategies.

Is Buffalo a buyer's or seller's market?

Buffalo's current sale-to-list ratio is 1.008 with 33.4% of homes closing below list. That's a balanced market — neither side dominates. Median days on market: 11 days. Active inventory: 671 listings.

Which investment strategy works best in Buffalo?

Buffalo's data favors BRRRR and long-term rentals — strong gross yield with stable to appreciating prices. See the per-strategy breakdowns at /wholesaling/buffalo, /brrrr/buffalo, and /flipping/buffalo.

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