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ockford, Illinois, a city just outside Chicago, has unexpectedly taken the top spot as the hottest housing market in the US. This unassuming city has surpassed long-time champion Manchester, New Hampshire, which had held the title for 31 consecutive months since 2017.

    Located about an hour and a half from Chicago, Rockford is attracting homebuyers seeking affordability and fast-moving deals. The median home price in Rockford was $242,000 in December, significantly lower than the national average of $356,000. Homes are selling quickly, with an average of just 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days.

    According to Hannah Jones, senior economic analyst at Realtor.com, "Rockford's hotness is driven by high demand and limited inventory." Demand in Rockford has surged, with three times more people viewing homes there than nationally. This surge pushed home prices up 21% in December from the previous year, while national prices dropped 1.8%.

    While affordability is a major draw for buyers, Rockford also offers solid job prospects in manufacturing and aerospace, as well as access to quality healthcare. However, economic hurdles remain, with an unemployment rate of 8.1% in November.

    This trend aligns with a broader shift in the housing market, where every city on Realtor.com's hottest markets list has been in the Midwest or Northeast for the past 15 months. Zillow predicts this trend will continue into 2025, naming Buffalo, New York, as the next market to watch. The nationwide housing market has slowed due to high mortgage rates, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.91% last week.