The Top 10 Places to Buy a Home
Check out the Top 10 cities where housing markets are geared toward buyers.
Aug. 11, 2009 — -- When you go to buy a house, a market with cheap prices is not the only factor you should consider. Rather, look for communities with a strong job market and stable housing values. Some common threads: cities with military bases, state capitals and college towns all fare well because they are more "recession proof," according to Zillow, an online real estate company. A strong tourism industry helps, too.
Click here for the Top 10 best places to sell.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Median home value: $223,800, down 1 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 7 percent compared with five years ago.
Houses cost an average of $139 per square foot.
Buyers are paying 2 percent less than the listing price.
Click here to learn more about Virginia Beach's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Albany, N.Y.
Median Home Value: $190,700, down 3 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 4.4 percent compared with five years ago.
Houses cost an average of $123 dollars per square foot.
Buyers are paying 3 percent less than listing price.
Click here to learn more about Albany's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
San Diego, Calif.
Median Home Value: $346,000, down 14 percent from a year ago but with shrinking declines.
Thirty-six percent of homes on the market are foreclosure resales.
Forty percent of homes are being sold for less than the owners paid for them.
Eighty-nine percent of home values are decreasing, but the declines are slowing and the bottom is in sight.
Houses cost an average of $219 per square foot.
Click here to learn more about San Diego's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Austin, Texas
Median Home Value: $172,800, down 12 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 3 percent compared with five years ago.
Buyers are paying 9 percent less than listing price.
Houses cost an average of $98 per square foot.
Click here to learn more about Austin's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Madison, Wis.
Median Home Value: $207,600, down 4 percent from a year ago.
Property values are flat compared with five years ago.
Houses cost an average of $113 per square foot.
Buyers are paying 3 percent less than listing price.
Click here to learn more about Madison's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Greenville, S.C.
Median Home Value: $132,000, down 1 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 3 percent compared with five years ago.
Houses cost an average of $83 per square foot.
Buyers are paying 4 percent less than listing price.
Click here to learn more about Greenville's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Gainesville, Fla.
Median Home Value: $ 157,800, down 11 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 3.2 percent compared with five years ago.
Buyers are paying 5 percent less than listing price.
Houses cost an average of $106 per square foot.
Click here to learn more about Gainesville's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Median Home Value: $ 141,900, down 2 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 5.1 percent compared with five years ago.
Houses cost an average of $89 per square foot.
Buyers are paying 4 percent less than listing price.
Click here to learn more about Knoxville's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Richmond, Va.
Median Home Value: $ 207,000, down 7 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 5 percent compared with five years ago.
Houses cost an average of $119 per square foot.
Buyers are paying 3 percent less than listing price.
Click here to learn more about Richmond's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Median Home Value: $274,000, down 14 percent from a year ago.
Property values are up 4 percent compared with five years ago.
Buyers are paying 8 percent less than listing price.
Houses cost an average of $164 per square foot.
Click here to learn more about Flagstaff's housing market and click here for a list of available properties.