How does Milwaukee’s resilience compare to other major markets where Redfin has significant exposure, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Boston?

Milwaukee’s performance in a nutshell

• Home‑sales growth: +12 % year‑over‑year (YoY)
  
• Price growth: +8.2 % YoY
  
• Seller‑price dynamics: The “typical seller” is receiving more than the list price (i.e., a modest seller‑price premium).
  

According to Redfin’s latest market‑report, Milwaukee is the only major U.S. city where the housing market is still posting double‑digit sales growth and solid price appreciation while sellers are comfortably clearing their asking price. The report explicitly frames Milwaukee as “holding up better than any other major U.S. housing market.”

How this stacks up against Redfin’s other “big‑ticket” metros (New York, Los Angeles, Boston)

Why Milwaukee’s resilience matters for Redfin’s exposure

1. Geographic diversification – Redfin’s brokerage platform is heavily concentrated in the coastal “mega‑metros” (NY, LA, Boston). Those markets are more sensitive to macro‑economic headwinds (e.g., high mortgage rates, tighter credit, and affordability limits). Milwaukee’s mid‑west dynamics—lower price levels, more modest cost‑of‑living pressures, and a healthier balance between supply and demand—provide a counter‑cyclical buffer for Redfin’s overall portfolio.

2. Revenue‑per‑sale premium – In a market where sellers are clearing above‑list prices, agents (and by extension Redfin’s brokerage) can capture higher commissions and transaction‑related fees. The 12 % sales‑growth boost also means more listings and more transaction volume for Redfin agents operating in Milwaukee, directly bolstering the company’s top line.

3 Inventory health – The mention of Chicago’s declining inventory and faster market speed suggests a regional trend toward tighter supply. If Milwaukee follows a similar path, the seller‑price premium could deepen, further differentiating it from the coastal markets where inventory has been expanding (softening price pressure).

Bottom‑line comparison

Interpretation: Based on the language of the Redfin report, Milwaukee is outperforming the three coastal powerhouses on all three core housing‑market health indicators—sales volume, price appreciation, and seller‑price advantage. The lack of comparable positive metrics for New York, Los Angeles, and Boston in the same release suggests those markets are either stagnant or experiencing a modest slowdown, whereas Milwaukee is still on an upward trajectory.

What to watch next

• Redfin’s forthcoming regional breakdowns – When Redfin releases the next set of city‑level data, look for the exact YoY sales and price percentages for NY, LA, and Boston. That will confirm (or refine) the qualitative inference made here.
• Inventory trends – If Milwaukee’s inventory begins to shrink (as hinted by the Chicago example), the seller‑price premium could rise even further, amplifying the divergence from the coastal markets.
• Mortgage‑rate environment – Should rates stabilize or decline, the coastal metros might regain some momentum, narrowing the gap with Milwaukee. Conversely, a prolonged high‑rate environment could keep the coastal markets subdued while Milwaukee continues to benefit from its more affordable price base.

In short: Milwaukee’s housing market is the only major U.S. market that is still delivering double‑digit sales growth, solid price appreciation, and a seller‑price premium. By contrast, Redfin’s flagship exposure cities—New York, Los Angeles, and Boston—are not showing these same strengths in the current Redfin report, indicating that Milwaukee’s resilience is significantly stronger relative to those coastal markets.