Hartford, Conn., was also forecasted to be among the top markets by the real estate listing website, but Boston ranked 16th among the 50 metro areas compared.

In a Zillow ranking released on Tuesday, Providence and its metro area ranked as the third hottest market in the country, rising two places from where Zillow put it last year. Zillow ranked the 50 largest metro areas in the country. The only hotter markets, where it's even harder to buy a house, are Buffalo, New York and Indianapolis, Indiana.

With steep competition to find a home in the new year, these cities offer affordable options for buyers in the housing market.

Buffalo, N.Y., will for the second year in a row be the hottest housing market in the country due to its job market stability and affordable home prices, according to a report released Tuesday by

Zillow says relative affordability and job growth will be the key drivers among the most competitive markets for buyers in 2025.

While the national housing supply recently reached a four-year high, buying a home in some U.S. cities may be especially difficult in 2025, a new Zillow report suggests. To make its predictions, Zillow reviewed multiple factors — including how quickly homes have been selling,