Seventeen of the best places to buy a house in the US - especially if you're short on money
From North Carolina to Pennsylvania, the cities span numerous states and are sure to cater for all
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Kelly Rissman
US News Reporter
House prices are up and supply is down across the United States, but buying a house is not as tough as it may seem. You just have to know where to look.
More than 80 per cent of millennials say becoming a homeowner is a priority for them, according to NerdWallet’s latest homebuyer report.
Many are considering it “the next step in my life” and plan to buy within the next five years.
Affordable real estate is hard to come by in America’s coastal cities. Migrating to the Midwest or Southern United States is a smart bet if you are looking to put down roots at an affordable cost.
That is evidenced by SmartAsset’s annual list of the best places for first time homebuyers.
SmartAsset gathered housing data for 64 metros (the US cities with a population over 300,000) related to securing a loan, the value of the average home, stability of the housing market and affordability.
Each city was ranked in seven categories and then given an average score. We narrowed down the list to feature the cities with a total score of 55 or higher, out of a possible 100.
Below, check out the top 17 best places for first-time homebuyers.
1. Raleigh, North Carolina
Loan funding rate – 76 per cent
Value per square foot – $128.67 (£95.06p)
Median listing price: $347,248
2. Corpus Christi, Texas
Loan funding rate – 67 per cent
Value per square foot – $90.33
Median listing price – $209,900
3. Denver, Colorado
Loan funding rate – 76 per cent
Value per square foot – $322.33
Median listing price – $485,000
4. Arlington, Texas
Loan funding rate – 71 per cent
Value per square foot – $102.83
Median listing price – $229,000
5. Charlotte, North Carolina
Loan funding rate – 76 per cent
Value per square foot – $108.83
Median listing price – $298,900
6. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Loan funding rate – 75 per cent
Value per square foot – $138.00
Median listing price – $329,000
7. Fort Worth, Texas
Loan funding rate – 71 per cent
Value per square foot – $94.42
Median listing price – $246,925
8. Dallas, Texas
Loan funding rate – 67 per cent
Value per square foot – $90.58
Median listing price – $399,000
9. Louisville, Kentucky
Loan funding rate – 76 per cent
Value per square foot – $100.67
Median listing price – $164,900
10. Wichita, Kansas
Loan funding rate – 82 per cent
Value per square foot – $91.67
Median listing price – $154,900
11. San Antonio, Texas
Loan funding rate: 62 per cent
Value per square foot – $80.50
Median listing price –$229,500
12. Indianapolis, Indiana
Loan funding rate – 75 per cent
Value per square foot – $74.33
Median listing price – $149,900
13. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Loan funding rate – 73 per cent
Value per square foot – $77.75
Median listing price – $163,740
14. Houston, Texas
Loan funding rate – 71 per cent
Value per square foot: $87.50
Median listing price: $329,950
15. Omaha, Nebraska
Loan funding rate – 82 per cent
Value per square foot – $113.08
Median listing price – $229,950
16. Oklahoma City, Oklahom
Loan funding rate – 77 per cent
Value per square foot – $83.75
Median listing price – $184,900
17. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Loan funding rate – 81 per cent
Value per square foot – $91.00
Median listing price – $212,000
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