Quick move-in homes (QMIs), or homes that can likely be occupied within 90 days, represent standing inventory in the new-home market. These homes are typically built or nearing completion before a buyer is secured, giving builders more flexibility on delivery timelines while also increasing exposure if demand softens. For that reason, tracking QMIs per community provides a useful lens into how supply is stacking up relative to actively selling projects.
Zonda’s latest New Home Market Update, reflecting May data, highlights the highest QMIs per community, offering a snapshot of where supply is elevated right now. Nationally, there were two QMIs per community, in-line with the same month last year. All of the markets with the highest supply today have between 2.7 and 3.9 QMIs per community.
While this ranking is based strictly on the most recent QMIs per community, the broader context helps explain the positioning. Across most of these metros, QMI levels remain significantly above pre-pandemic norms, following a multiyear increase in spec building and a more recent normalization in sales pace. Nationally, builders have leaned on incentives and pricing adjustments to work through elevated inventories, particularly in markets with higher concentrations of QMIs.
As the market continues to rebalance in 2026, QMIs per community will be a key metric to watch. It not only reflects how much inventory builders are carrying, but also how effectively supply is aligning with current demand at the local level. Understanding where QMI concentrations are highest can provide early insight into which markets may see more pricing pressure, incentive activity, or adjustments to future starts.
The insights in this article were taken from the monthly New Home Market Update published in Zonda’s National Outlook subscription.
