US Metro Real Estate Intelligence
Rankings/Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

NeutralTier 1CBSA 15380Compare
Risk Rank: #106 of 274Month: 2026-06Score change (12m): -7
53score
Composite risk percentile vs 274 metros (higher = higher risk)

Executive Summary

Buffalo's housing market shows average risk, ranking 106th of 274 metros. The market recently entered Hypersupply. Inventory levels are elevated, warranting monitoring. Inventory accumulating faster than demand — the market is shifting toward buyers.

Buffalo experienced a market correction from early 2025 through early 2025. Elevated inventory persists, suggesting the market hasn't fully normalized.

Inventory is elevated (+28% YoY) and days on market are up -3% — supply is building but not yet at stress levels.

Rent growth is roughly keeping pace with price appreciation, suggesting valuations are not stretched.

Cycle Phase

RecoveryExpansionHypersupplyRecession
2 months in current phase·from Hypersupply

Building activity may be outpacing demand absorption

20192020202120222023202420252026

Key Dynamics

Risk is primarily driven by migration and permit growth, while permits per capita provides the most support.

Top Drivers

Migrationp96
Net AGI migration (risk inverted)
Permit Growthp72
YoY permit change
Employmentp66
12-month employment change (risk inverted)

Market Signals

Inventory is elevated (+28% YoY) and days on market are up -3% — supply is building but not yet at stress levels.

Liquidity

Watch
Active Listings YoY
+27.7%p78
Days on Market YoY
-3.3%p40
Months in status2
Data through Jun 2026

Valuation

Balanced
Rent vs. Price Growth
+2.7%p91
Months in status2
Data through Jun 2026Rent growth vs price growth (rent support). Note: Affordability and Valuation measure different structural dimensions and can diverge.
Factor Details
Lower riskHigher risk
Low RiskBelow AvgNeutralElevatedHigh Risk
Price MomentumLow Risk
+0.5%p19

12-month HPI change — higher = overheating

Permit GrowthElevated
+15.0%p72

YoY permit change — higher = supply pressure

Permits per CapitaLow Risk
1.17p8

Permits per 1,000 residents — higher = overbuilding risk

AffordabilityNeutral
0.29p55

Mortgage payment / income — higher = more burdened

EmploymentElevated
+0.1%p66

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

MigrationHigh Risk
-$251Kp96

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

National Context

Credit Conditions

Credit Regime

Stable

Oversupply with deteriorating transactions and no credit excuse. Supply-driven correction risk is elevated.

Bank Lending Standards
N/ANormal
Rate Change (YoY)
-5 bpsNormal
Mortgage Risk Premium
+194 bpsElevated
Stable for 10 quartersData through 2026-Q3

Supply Pipeline

Supply Regime

Accumulating

Supply pipeline is building up while credit remains available. New units are accumulating in the system — watch for delivery pressure in coming quarters.

Pipeline Ratio
0.90Elevated
Completion-Permit Divergence
-3.1 ppNormal
Accumulating for 5 quartersData through 2026-Q2
Local Signals

Metro Permit Activity

Permit Activity

Surge
YoY Permit Growth
+15.0%Far above norm

Raw signal — not the composite percentile

Relative to 2016–2019 norms for this metro

Heavy building into softening demand. The construction pipeline may outrun absorption — watch for inventory acceleration in coming months.

Employment Concentration

Employment

Diversified
Largest SectorGovernment 15.9%
QCEW 2024 annual averages
Internal Structure

County-level structural analysis.

County-level structural analysis is not available for this metro due to fewer than 3 qualifying counties.

Score History
MonthScore
2026-0552
2025-1250
2025-1058
2025-0854
2025-0660
2025-0558
2025-0354
2025-0255
2025-0152
2024-1261
2024-1160
2024-0962
2024-0861
2024-0758
2024-0556
2024-0255
2023-1257
2023-1156
2023-0954
2023-0855
2023-0653
2023-0355
2023-0254
2023-0151
2022-1152
2022-1049
2022-0851
2022-0751
2022-0546
2022-0346
2022-0143
2021-1151
2021-0955
2021-0642
2021-0360
2020-1263
2020-1161
2020-0959
2020-0658
2020-0357
2019-1261
2019-1060
2019-0960
2019-0757
2019-0453
2019-0350
2019-0152
Data Vintages
Price (HPI)2026-Q1
Permits2026-06
Income2024
Employment2026-06
Migration2023