U.S. Home Buyer Activity Leaps in January as 83 Markets Hit Double-Digit Showings Per Listing

Top 25 markets were up an average of 14% year over year, with Seattle and Denver leading in showings per listing, followed by Salt Lake City; Boulder, Colo.; Manchester, N.H.; Dallas; and Orlando, according to ShowingTime data

CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2022 -- The latest data from ShowingTime, a residential real estate industry leading technology provider of showing management and market stats, shows a surge in home buyer demand in January, with the average number of showings per listing at double digits in 83 markets nationwide. This enormous activity occurred in a month when buyer activity typically slows and followed a historic 2021, where buyer demand across the country was extraordinarily strong.

In January, the entire country experienced a 7.7% year-over-year uptick nationally in home tours, according to the latest data from the ShowingTime Showing Index®. The top 25 markets were up an average of 14% compared with the heavy traffic numbers recorded last January.

As was the case in much of last year, Seattle*and Denver recorded the highest claimed the first and second spots for showings per listing in January, with 26 and 25, respectively. Of note, Seattle showed a 2 percent drop in showing year-over-year, due to phenomenal activity in January 2021. Numbers of showings outperformed all other markets nationwide, regardless. Next, Salt Lake City; Boulder, Colo.; and Manchester, N.H. trailed Seattle and Denver, all averaged 17 showings per listing, while Orlando, Fla. and Dallas each had 16 showings per listing to begin the year.

"Given last year's historic flurry of activity, it's not surprising that buyers were motivated to meet their home ownership goals so shortly after the holidays," said ShowingTime Vice President and General Manager Michael Lane. "With buyer demand showing no sign of letting up, we remain committed to helping busy real estate professionals handle the ensuing surge in business, just as we did throughout last year."

Regionally, the South led the country with a 12.3% year-over-year jump in showing traffic in January, with Dallas and the Florida cities of Orlando, Sarasota and Miami having enormous home touring action. The Midwest's 8.2% climb and Northeast's 7% bump in activity closely followed, while the West - despite very active traffic in Seattle and Denver - saw a 4.5% dip in showings compared to its historic January 2021 numbers.

The ShowingTime Showing Index is compiled using data from more than six million property showings scheduled across the country each month on listings using ShowingTime products and services. It tracks the average number of appointments received on active listings during the month.

*Note: Seattle shows a -2% in the Y-O-Y chart below, due to a phenomenal January 2021. Numbers of showings outperformed all other markets nationwide, regardless.

About ShowingTime

ShowingTime is the industry leader in home touring technology and a proud affiliate of Zillow Group, Inc. ShowingTime's technology and services simplify the tour scheduling process for buyers, sellers and agents across the industry. ShowingTime products are used in hundreds of MLSs representing more than one million real estate professionals across the U.S. and Canada.