Prices in Seattle rose 12% last year the most of any list city. The average home price is second highest. Says Winzer: “In the very top markets, both population and jobs are growing at high rates and builders aren’t able to keep up, which is why home prices have increased rapidly and rental demand will be strong.”
West Palm Beach enjoys 11% annual home price growth, 1.9% annual job growth and 4.7% three-year population growth. Despite the major rise in prices, homes here are not yet over valued.
West Palm Beach enjoys 11% annual home price growth, 1.9% annual job growth and 4.7% three-year population growth. Despite the major rise in prices, homes here are not yet over valued.
Salt Lake City West has 8% annual home price growth, 3.3% annual job growth and 4.1% three-year population growth. While not under valued, prices are yet to get ahead of themselves.
Home prices grew 9% in Tampa last year. Job growth was 2.6%. The population in the fourth and final Florida city on the list grew 4.5% from 2012 to 2015.
Nashville enjoys 9% annual home price growth and 2.7% annual job growth. With 6% three-year population growth it was among the fastest growing cities on the list. As demand grows, homes here are under priced by 7%.
Home prices gained 9% in Forth Worth last year. Job growth was 2.3%. The population in the second of three Texas markets to make the list grew 5.2% from 2012 to 2015.
Homes in Grand Rapids (no. 1 in 2016) are by far the lowest priced of the list and significantly undervalued compared to history and local income. “Markets like Grand Rapids, Columbus and Atlanta still hold bargains,” says Winzer. “All these markets have upside price potential without the risk of a local bubble.”
Just two California markets made this year’s list. “We don’t see Los Angeles or San Francisco in this list because they already are over-priced,” notes Winzer. Sacramento, the state capital, rejoins the top 20 this year thanks in part to perfect pricing for the city’s average income.
The first of two consecutive North Carolina markets to make the list, Charlotte has 8% annual home price growth, 2.1% annual job growth and 5.7% three-year population growth. Prices here are undervalued by 11%.
Raleigh claims 7% annual home price growth, 2.2% annual job growth and 7.1% three-year population growth–the second highest on the list. Prices here are undervalued by 15%.
San Diego is the highest priced place on our list after gaining 6% last year. Unlike nearby Los Angeles, the city is not yet overvalued for the local income. The population here grew 3.6% between 2012 and 2015 and last year the city had 2.2% annual job growth.
Though still under priced by 14%, Las Vegas housing has come a long way from when it was depressed by as much as 40%. The city was crushed by the financial crisis, with few takers for either casinos or the large supply of investment properties. But people are now coming back with 5.8% population and 1.9% job growth.
The only North Eastern city to make it, Boston bucks trends thanks to its healthcare industry. At 2.7% population growth here is the lowest of the list, but with no room to build it doesn’t take much to boost prices. Last year Boston had 1.9% job growth. Home prices have gained 6% but are still slightly under valued.
Columbus ties with Grand Rapids for most under valued city, at 25% below the historic ratio of price to income in the city. Prices here are among the lowest on the list and have grown 6% year-over-year. The population in Columbus grew 3.9% from 2012 to 2015. Last year job growth was 1.6%, the lowest on the list.
With 5.6 million people, Atlanta has the largest population of any city on the list. The population here grew 4.7% between 2012 and 2015. Last year the city had 2.7% job growth. Home prices gained 8% last year but are still undervalued by 17%.
Home prices gained 7% in Phoenix last year. Job growth was 1.8%. The population in only Arizona market on the list grew 5.7% from 2012 to 2015.
The population of San Antonio grew 6.5% from 2012 to 2015. Lat year home prices gained 7% and jobs growth was 1.7%. Homes here are 7% under valued.
For the methodology and trends behind this list read: Best Buy Cities: Where To Invest In Housing In 2017
Graphics by Nick Desantis.
