2026 Landlord Exodus & Housing Stress Index
New analysis of 894 U.S. metropolitan areas reveals extreme divergence — five Florida metros score perfect 10/10 crash risk while Midwest markets show zero risk indicators.
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Press Release Summary
Five Florida Metros Score Perfect 10/10 Crash Risk; Midwest Markets Remain Safest
New "2026 Landlord Exodus & Housing Stress Index" reveals extreme divergence in U.S. housing markets
ANAHEIM, CA — December 2025 — A new analysis of 894 U.S. metropolitan areas finds that five Florida metros now score a perfect 10/10 on crash risk while Midwest cities score 0/10, indicating the most stable markets in the country. The "2026 Landlord Exodus & Housing Stress Index," published by GigHz, combines Zillow housing and rent data with proprietary market health indicators to pinpoint where markets are most vulnerable.
Highest Crash Risk (Score 10/10)
| Metro | Score | Price YoY | Rent YoY | % Below List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Gorda, FL | 10/10 | -12.9% | -1.4% | 80.5% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 10/10 | -10.6% | -4.4% | 82.2% |
| North Port, FL | 10/10 | -9.3% | -2.2% | 82.6% |
| Naples, FL | 10/10 | -7.8% | -2.4% | 91.3% |
| Sevierville, TN | 10/10 | -6.2% | -1.8% | 79.2% |
| Austin, TX | 9/10 | -6.0% | -2.6% | 74.3% |
Safest Markets (Score 0/10)
| Metro | Score | Price YoY | Rent YoY | Days to Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | 0/10 | +7.1% | +6.7% | 7 |
| Erie, PA | 0/10 | +6.9% | +8.0% | 12 |
| Syracuse, NY | 0/10 | +4.9% | +5.4% | 9 |
| Cleveland, OH | 0/10 | +4.6% | +5.7% | 11 |
Major Metro Highlights
- Miami: 80.2% of homes selling below list, 47.3% rent stress, prices down 4.8% YoY
- Austin: Prices down 6.0% YoY, rents down 2.6% YoY, 72 days average to sale
- Chicago: Prices UP 3.6% YoY, rents UP 5.9% YoY, just 14 days to sale — fastest major market
- Los Angeles: 67.7% rent stress (highest of major metros), $943K median home value
- New York: 55.7% rent stress, prices UP 3.0% YoY despite affordability concerns
The Landlord Friendliness Paradox
States with the strictest tenant protections have the highest rent burdens:
- Least Friendly States (CA, NY, NJ, MA, WA, DC): 21.0% average rent stress
- Most Friendly States (33 states): 18.3% average rent stress
Key finding: 2.7 percentage point higher rent burden in states with the most restrictive landlord regulations.
"The U.S. housing market has split into distinct capital zones. Five Florida metros hit our maximum crash risk score while Midwest cities like Rockford and Erie show zero risk indicators. This isn't a national housing crisis — it's a regional repricing driven by oversupply in pandemic boomtowns and continued stability in overlooked markets."
Dr. Pouyan Golshani, MD — Founder, GigHzAbout GigHz
GigHz is a consulting and capital platform founded by Dr. Pouyan Golshani, an image-guided minimally invasive surgeon and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Golshani created RadReport AI (agentic radiology reporting) and is building Repit.org, a national real estate data platform that tracks price trends, appreciation, rents, and vacancies down to the ZIP code level. GigHz publishes data-driven research to help investors identify profitable markets.
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