Millions of Americans are deciding that it’s simply not a good idea to work themselves to the point of exhaustion anymore just to pay for a big home in a big city. With that, some “smaller” markets are becoming more and more affordable. While a large number of people spent years dreaming of living right on the coast, in a sprawling metropolitan like New York or Boston, now multitudes of people are looking to settle in significantly smaller areas. While 6 out of the top 10 markets in the 2020 forecast are in the eastern or central time zone, there is still some demand for people looking to move to the west. Here’s a look at a few of the most affordable real estate markets.
Boise City, Idaho
With a median home price of $295,000, Boise City is quickly bouncing back from the Great Recession that essentially destroyed the city’s economy. The Boise-metro area is having immediate benefits on the housing market of Boise City. Quickly establishing itself as a tech-centered area, over 60% of the housing searches online for Boise City were done by people who don’t even live in Idaho presently. New businesses and new homes are being built, and people are taking note.
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is presently in the middle of a major seller-friendly market. With city officials going to great lengths to attract new businesses to the area, homes are often being sold as quickly as they can be put on the market. While job growth is still moving somewhat slowly, Tucson also benefits from the presence of the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base that generates billions in revenue for the town.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
For under $200,000 you can find a home situated conveniently between Nashville, TN, and Atlanta, GA. Chattanooga immediately lends itself to people who are looking for access to the big city without actually having to live in a big city. Once dubbed the “dirtiest city in America” by Walter Cronkite, Chattanooga is now considered one of the best places to live by US News and World Report.
There are certainly plenty of options for you to consider if you’re looking to move. Decide what’s most important to you, and don’t feel like you have to overspend to get into a good place. There are plenty of affordable markets all around the country.