Columbus is once again expected to be a hot housing market in 2025, though perhaps not as sizzling as last year.

Why it matters: Zillow's annual report of "hottest markets" shows cities with strong demand, steady home values, a growing number of homeowners and job growth.

Zoom in: Columbus ranks No. 12 out of the nation's 50 most populous metros.

• That's down from No. 3 in 2024, but up from No. 20 in 2023.

How it works: The ranking forecasts the most competitive housing markets for buyers.

• Those at the top of the list are largely "starved for housing inventory" in regions that tend to be relatively affordable with strong job and wage growth, the real estate platform shares with Axios.

The intrigue: Buffalo, New York, is No. 1 for the second-consecutive year, while Ohio had a particularly strong showing.

• Cincinnati is No. 11, followed by Cleveland at No. 14. Ohio is the only state with three cities in the top 15.

Between the lines: Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy tells Axios that sellers in the top markets have the upper hand as homes fly off the market at record speed.

• In markets that moved down on the list, homes are already sitting on the market longer, and home values are expected to depreciate.

By the numbers: Central Ohio housing inventory was up about 21% year-over-year in November 2024, while days on market increased 29% — two signs competition may be cooling off a bit, per Columbus Realtors' most recent report.

What they're saying: "There are nearly 1,000 more homes on the market right now in Central Ohio than last year at this time," president Scott Hrabcak noted in that report. "If you're looking for a new home, now is a perfect time."

Reality check: Median sale prices are still slightly higher than last year, though, pricing out some prospective buyers.

• High mortgage rates will also remain a factor…

Don't expect a big change to U.S. mortgage rates this year, based on economists' predictions.

What they're saying: Rates are expected to be in the low- to mid-6% range at the end of 2025, according to Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale.

• Redfin's economists forecast rates to stay higher, near 7%.

The latest: Last week, the average 30-year fixed rate was 6.6%, according to Freddie Mac.

• That's up from around 6% when the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in mid-September 2024.

Between the lines: "We're not going to see a big change in the affordability picture," Hale tells Axios.

• "It's still going to be challenging to get into the housing market," especially for first-time buyers, she says.

Go deeper: What 2025 could hold for the housing market

🛫 Mayor Andrew Ginther spent 78 days traveling around the globe last year, with taxpayers funding nearly $20,000 in business trips to San Diego, Sweden and elsewhere.

• Ginther also traveled extensively in his role as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. (Dispatch)

🏢 JPMorgan Chase, one of Central Ohio's largest employers, will soon require nearly all employees to return to the office five days a week. (Columbus Business First 🔒)

🏗️ Bexley City Schools has shared development proposals for new athletic facilities using nearly 30 acres of land it recently purchased. (WCMH-TV)

🤢 Over 50 Ohio State students and families are suing the university for alleged moldy living conditions in the 11-story Lawrence Tower residence hall. (WBNS-TV)

🎨 Skylab Gallery aims to raise $15,000 toward relaunching the DIY arts space in a new South High Street location. (Matter News)

Sensitive data belonging to students and teachers across several area school districts appears to have been stolen in a recent breach of a PowerSchool, a major education technology provider.

Zoom in: Reynoldsburg, Olentangy, Upper Arlington and Westerville were among the local districts affected, per the Dispatch.

Catch up quick: Parents nationwide started receiving messages from districts last week about the extent of the breach and what data was likely compromised, according to emails seen by Axios and local news reports.

• Each district was impacted differently and PowerSchool hasn't said much about how many students' information was compromised.

What to do next:

🔐 Reset any possibly compromised passwords.

💳 Parents: Check whether your child has a credit report and contact the respective credit report firm with your findings. Here's a how-to guide.

• Also consider placing a fraud alert on your child's name.

🧊 Teachers: Freeze your credit reports to prevent new accounts being opened in your name, and consider filing a police report.

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If you're a Buckeye fan desperate to witness the team win its ninth national title, we hope you've been saving your pennies.

The intrigue: After a dramatic 28-14 win over Texas, the Buckeyes travel to Atlanta for next Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship against Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

If you want to go: Good luck.

• Tickets sold out immediately, but some resale options are fluctuating wildly, starting around $1,600 as of yesterday.
• Round-trip flights will set you back nearly $500 for a budget option, but over $800 is more likely (even as Southwest adds flights for fans).

The big picture: The title game is the capstone to the inaugural 12-team playoff.

• Fans griped about early round blowouts, but the championship will feature two of the highest-profile teams facing off.

📧 Going to Atlanta? Hit reply and tell us about your travel plans!

• And for those who can't: What are your thoughts on the season? Have you forgiven Ryan Day yet?