Zonda’s Homebuyer Outlook report, which offers proprietary analysis of NewHomeSource data, showed that Oklahoma City’s housing market closed out 2025 with a notable and somewhat unexpected surge in buyer activity.
NewHomeSource is the nation’s largest online marketplace dedicated exclusively to new construction. The platform connects millions of homebuyers each year with new home communities, builders, and floor plans. Zonda’s exclusive assessment of buyer engagement on the platform, captured through metrics such as clicks and searches, provides an early, real-time indicator of new-home demand at the market-level.
Click Index Spikes
Housing demand in Oklahoma City, measured by listing clicks, jumped 42.9% year-over-year in December, sharply outperforming the broader market, where demand across the top U.S. metros declined 18.4%. Month-over-month, the click index rose nearly 29.9%, signaling renewed consumer interest heading into 2026.
The late-year rebound stands out given the affordability pressures facing many housing markets nationwide. For Oklahoma City, the data suggest that relative affordability, paired with steady job growth and lower barriers to entry, continues to attract buyer attention even as price alignment remains imperfect.
Builders and Communities Leading the Charge
Several Oklahoma City communities posted exceptionally strong sales performance in the fourth quarter, highlighting where demand is translating into transactions. Hefner Crossing led the market with an average of 19 monthly sales, followed by Guthrie Farms and Hollow Brook 2, both of which also recorded double-digit absorption rates. All of the best-selling new home communities in the fourth quarter were built by three builders: Lennar (70%), Homes by Taber (20%), or LGI Homes (10%).
Builder performance, as measured by new home shopper searches, saw similar concentration over the fourth quarter. Lennar dominated buyer engagement in Oklahoma City, capturing 42.1% of total searches. Homes by Taber followed closely, accounting for 35.9% of search activity. Notably, every recorded search during the quarter was for single-family homes, reinforcing Oklahoma City’s strong preference for detached living and traditional neighborhood formats.
Amenity and Lifestyle Preferences
Amenity preferences further clarify buyer priorities. Pools emerged as the most sought-after feature among Oklahoma City shoppers, accounting for over half of amenity-related searches and significantly outpacing other options. Gated communities were the amenity with the next-highest interest level, accounting for 22.6% of fourth-quarter searches.
Amenity preferences are important to keep an eye on, especially for those markets where affordability remains a key differentiator. This is true because amenity choices that enhance perceived value without materially increasing costs may be especially effective at attracting new home shoppers.
Price Disconnect Creates Ongoing Friction
Despite strong new home shopper engagement, pricing remains the primary constraint on conversion. Nearly half of all buyers searched for homes priced between $200,000 and $300,000, yet only 30% of available listings fell within that range. Conversely, while just 13% of searches targeted the $400,000 to $500,000 segment, 30% of listings were priced there. This imbalance suggests that Oklahoma City’s supply was skewed above the market’s deepest pool of demand in the fourth quarter.
For builders, the data reinforce the importance of recalibrating product offerings and price points, particularly at the lower end of the market, where demand is strongest but inventory remains limited.
Relocation Dynamics and Competitive Positioning
Oklahoma City continues to benefit from inbound interest tied to its affordability advantage. Over the past three months, external search activity has been strongest from Dallas and Tulsa, with additional interest from Chicago and New York City. With median home prices roughly 27% lower than Chicago and dramatically below New York, Oklahoma City remains well positioned to attract relocators seeking attainable homeownership without sacrificing space or lifestyle.
Outlook for 2026
Looking ahead, NewHomeSource trends show that Oklahoma City appears poised to maintain momentum into 2026, provided builders can better align supply with buyer expectations. With buyer interest rebounding and affordability remaining a competitive advantage, the market offers a meaningful opportunity for builders willing to adjust product mix and execution to match demand.
The insights in this article were taken from quarterly market pages published in Zonda’s Homebuyer Outlook.
