Affordable Places to Buy a Home
The 25 Most Affordable Places to Buy a Home
In these housing markets, the typical mortgage payment consumes less than a third of the median household monthly income.
Finding a home that meets your needs while leaving enough money for other life enjoyments can sometimes feel daunting. However, real estate markets vary significantly, and there are still areas where homes are considered affordable. If buying a home is a priority and you have the flexibility to move, consider these locations.
The cities on Zillow’s list of the most affordable places to live all have one thing in common: housing costs consume less than 30% of a typical household’s budget — often much less.
The rankings are based on a Zillow® analysis of metro areas across the country, considering the value of a typical home and the median household income. Also included is the monthly mortgage payment needed to purchase a typical home, assuming the buyer pays current interest rates and puts 20% down.
These factors combined produce a “mortgage-to-income ratio” — the share of your income that goes toward housing costs. Paying around a third of your income towards housing is generally considered affordable, meaning you have money left for other necessities, debt payments, and savings for the future.
Of course, determining what you can afford when shopping for a home involves various considerations beyond your mortgage-to-income ratio. Read on for tips on determining your price range, and remember to reach out to a lender if you have questions.
The Most Affordable Places to Live
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Typical Home Value: $202,454
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 19%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,053
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 5.3
- Jackson, MS
- Typical Home Value: $185,338
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 22%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $964
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 5.7
- Syracuse, NY
- Typical Home Value: $212,404
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 23%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,105
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 5.8
- Toledo, OH
- Typical Home Value: $176,787
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 24%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $920
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 5.6
- Wichita, KS
- Typical Home Value: $201,780
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 24%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,050
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 5.7
- Akron, OH
- Typical Home Value: $207,190
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 24%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,078
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 5.8
- St. Louis, MO
- Typical Home Value: $242,214
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 25%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,260
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6
- Augusta, GA
- Typical Home Value: $224,839
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 25%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,170
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.4
- Rochester, NY
- Typical Home Value: $233,753
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 25%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,216
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.2
- Detroit, MI
- Typical Home Value: $240,536
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,251
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.2
- Birmingham, AL
- Typical Home Value: $247,702
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,289
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.7
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Typical Home Value: $228,418
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,188
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.5
- Indianapolis, IN
- Typical Home Value: $270,026
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,405
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.6
- Little Rock, AR
- Typical Home Value: $212,713
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,107
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.5
- Des Moines, IA
- Typical Home Value: $270,827
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,409
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.1
- Columbia, SC
- Typical Home Value: $243,161
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,265
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 7
- Cleveland, OH
- Typical Home Value: $215,913
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,123
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.1
- Buffalo, NY
- Typical Home Value: $244,825
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 26%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,274
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.5
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Typical Home Value: $309,531
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 27%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,610
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 7.3
- Memphis, TN
- Typical Home Value: $234,635
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 27%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,221
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 7
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Typical Home Value: $229,529
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 27%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,194
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.4
- Louisville, KY
- Typical Home Value: $247,856
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 28%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,290
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.9
- Harrisburg, PA
- Typical Home Value: $274,217
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 28%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,427
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.9
- Cincinnati, OH
- Typical Home Value: $271,766
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 28%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,414
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.9
- Tulsa, OK
- Typical Home Value: $227,703
- Share of Monthly Income Needed: 28%
- Typical Monthly Mortgage Payment: $1,185
- Years to Save for 20% Down Payment: 6.7
Mortage Rate
How Does a 1% Interest Rate Change Affect Your Buying Power?
Even minor changes in mortgage rates, like 1% or 0.5%, can significantly impact what you pay over the life of your loan. When evaluating a home purchase, it’s easy to focus solely on the price to determine if it fits your budget. However, current mortgage rates are equally crucial in the affordability equation and they often change since you last did the math. Mortgage interest rates fluctuate frequently, influencing not only your monthly housing costs and long-term payments but also how much you can afford to spend on a home.
Given the mortgage market’s extraordinary volatility over the past two years, understanding how interest rates impact affordability is vital. Here’s how you can stay on top of rates to secure the best possible deal.
How Does the Mortgage Rate Affect Your Monthly Payment?
When you pay your mortgage every month, you’re paying down the borrowed amount (principal) and the interest on that money. These payments follow a fixed schedule where the initial payments are mostly interest, but over time, more of the payment goes towards the principal until the home is paid off, you refinance, or sell your home.
Olsen emphasizes that even small changes in mortgage interest rates can save or cost you money each month, affecting your purchasing power. “Those mortgage rates really do matter,” Olsen says. “Depending on your price point, even a half percentage point can increase or decrease the number of opportunities you can afford to move forward on.”
How Much of a Difference Does 1% Make on a Mortgage Rate?
To illustrate how changes in mortgage rates affect your monthly payment and purchasing power, consider the following examples. We examined a typical home nationally and in specific metros, assuming a 20% down payment and a fixed-rate, 30-year mortgage. These calculations exclude taxes and insurance.
A Typical U.S. Home, Valued at $346,900: $182 a Month
- At 7%: $1,846 monthly payment
- At 6%: $1,664 monthly payment (saving $182 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $65,691 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $30,480 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6%.
A Typical Home in San Diego, Valued at $919,800: $484 a Month
- At 7%: $4,896 monthly payment
- At 6%: $4,412 monthly payment (saving $484 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $174,178 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $80,772 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6%.
A Typical Home in Atlanta, Valued at $375,100: $197 a Month
- At 7%: $1,996 monthly payment
- At 6%: $1,799 monthly payment (saving $197 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $71,030 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $32,920 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6%.
A Typical Home in Dallas, Valued at $371,300: $195 a Month
- At 7%: $1,976 monthly payment
- At 6%: $1,781 monthly payment (saving $195 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $70,321 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $32,540 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6%.
A Typical Home in St. Louis, Valued at $241,500: $127 a Month
- At 7%: $1,285 monthly payment
- At 6%: $1,158 monthly payment (saving $127 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $45,735 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $21,127 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6%.
A Typical Home in Pittsburgh, Valued at $202,000: $106 a Month
- At 7%: $1,072 monthly payment
- At 6%: $966 monthly payment (saving $106 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $38,138 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $13,402 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6%.
How Much of a Difference Does 0.5% Make on a Mortgage Rate?
To see the impact of a half percentage point change, consider these examples:
A Typical Home in Phoenix, Valued at $451,600: $120 a Month
- At 7%: $2,404 monthly payment
- **At
6.5%**: $2,284 monthly payment (saving $120 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $43,233 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $19,059 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6.5%.
A Typical Home in Portland, Oregon, Valued at $524,870: $140 a Month
- At 7%: $2,794 monthly payment
- At 6.5%: $2,654 monthly payment (saving $140 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $50,238 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $22,145 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6.5%.
A Typical Home in Cincinnati, Valued at $270,800: $72 a Month
- At 7%: $1,441 monthly payment
- At 6.5%: $1,369 monthly payment (saving $72 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $25,919 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $11,342 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6.5%.
A Typical Home in Las Vegas, Valued at $411,600: $110 a Month
- At 7%: $2,191 monthly payment
- At 6.5%: $2,081 monthly payment (saving $110 each month)
- Over 30 Years: Save $39,392 in interest
- Buying Power Boost: Spend $17,360 more on a home without increasing the monthly payment if the interest rate drops from 7% to 6.5%.
Tips for Dealing with Volatile Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates are notoriously hard to predict, making it difficult to time a purchase to capture a better interest rate. However, there are strategies you can employ:
- Plan Flexibility in Your Budget: Are you shopping at the top of your budget, or do you have room in case rates change while you’re looking? Flexibility can also provide more options in a competitive bidding situation.
- Pro Tip: Use an Affordability Calculator to see how your budget changes under different scenarios.
- Talk to Lenders: Find a trusted lender who can walk you through various financial scenarios, including options to buy down the interest rate. This can help you act quickly if you find a home to purchase.
- Prep Your Finances: Focus on improving your credit score, as lenders typically offer their best rates to borrowers with higher scores.
- Consider Locking in Your Mortgage Rate: Changing rates can make it hard to decide when to lock in your rate. For most home shoppers, it’s generally best to lock your rate after signing an agreement to buy a home. Shop around since rate lock fees can vary among lenders.
- Consider Whether to Refinance: Some buyers opt to purchase at one rate with plans to refinance when rates drop. This option has costs, with average refinance closing costs ranging from 2%-6% of the loan amount. Use a Refinance Calculator to see what refinancing might look like for you.
Mortgage Interest Rate FAQs
Will Mortgage Rates Drop? The days of mortgage rates below 3% are likely gone for the foreseeable future. Fluctuations around higher rates are expected as the Federal Reserve Board manages inflation. According to Zillow Chief Economist Skylar Olsen, “Rates bounce up and down with the jobs report, inflation numbers, and Fed meetings. Mortgage rates should ease, but probably not until the end of the year if not next. Until then, expect continued volatility in 2024.”
Should You Wait for Mortgage Rates to Drop to Buy a House? There are no guarantees that interest rates will drop, how much they might decrease, or if rising home prices will negate any potential savings. Additionally, a limited housing supply means you might not have the luxury of waiting. Olsen advises buyers to build relationships with lenders early on and consider refinancing later if they find the right home now. “Supply is ultimately very low,” Olsen says.
By understanding how changes in mortgage rates affect your buying power, you can better navigate the housing market and make informed decisions. Whether planning for flexibility in your budget, improving your credit score, or considering refinancing options, being proactive and informed can help you secure the best possible deal.
7 Critical Factors to Watch for During Open Houses
7 Critical Factors to Watch for During Open Houses
When attending open houses, potential buyers often focus on the visible aesthetics and overall vibe of the property. However, several critical aspects might go unnoticed but can significantly impact the home’s value, livability, and future expenses. Here are seven key things to pay attention to during an open house:
Neighborhood Noise Levels
Noise pollution can greatly affect your quality of life. During your visit, listen for sounds from nearby highways, airports, railways, or busy streets. Visit the property at different times of the day to gauge noise levels. Persistent noise can be a significant nuisance and may affect your long-term enjoyment of the property.
Signs of Water Damage
Look for water stains on ceilings, walls, and floors, which can indicate past or present leaks. Musty odors can also be a sign of hidden moisture problems, potentially leading to mold growth and structural damage. Inspect the basement and attic for signs of water intrusion. Identifying these issues early can save you from costly repairs in the future.
Insulation and Window Quality
Proper insulation and quality windows are crucial for energy efficiency. Check for drafts around windows and doors. Ask about the age of the windows and whether they are double-paned. Poor insulation can lead to higher heating and cooling costs. Energy-efficient windows and proper insulation can significantly reduce your energy bills and improve comfort.
Electrical System and Outlets
Outdated electrical systems can be a safety hazard and costly to upgrade. Ensure there are enough outlets in each room, and check if the electrical panel is modern and capable of handling current electrical demands. Look for grounded outlets and the presence of GFCIs in bathrooms and kitchens. A modern electrical system is essential for safety and functionality.
Foundation and Structural Issues
Examine the foundation for cracks or signs of shifting. Uneven floors, doors that stick, or windows that are difficult to open can indicate structural problems. These issues can be expensive to repair and might affect the home’s safety and resale value. A solid foundation is crucial for the stability and longevity of the house.
Pest Infestations
Look for signs of pest activity, such as droppings, chewed wires, or damaged wood. Insects and rodents can cause significant damage to a home and may require professional extermination and ongoing prevention measures. Identifying pest issues early can prevent extensive damage and ensure a healthier living environment.
Plumbing and Water Pressure
Turn on faucets to check water pressure and the speed of drainage in sinks and tubs. Low water pressure can indicate plumbing issues. Also, look under sinks for signs of leaks and corrosion, and inspect the water heater’s age and condition. Proper plumbing is essential for convenience and avoiding potential water damage.
Additional Considerations
Natural Light and Ventilation
Natural light can enhance the ambiance and reduce energy costs. Note the orientation of the house and the size and placement of windows. Proper ventilation is also important to prevent moisture build-up and ensure indoor air quality. A well-lit and well-ventilated home can be more enjoyable and healthier to live in.
Storage Space
Ample storage is a must for most homeowners. Check closets, cabinets, and attic or basement spaces to ensure they meet your needs. Insufficient storage can lead to clutter and inconvenience. Having enough storage space is essential for keeping your home organized and functional.
Neighborhood and Community
Investigate the neighborhood thoroughly. Consider proximity to schools, parks, public transportation, and shopping centers. Talk to neighbors and assess the community’s safety and overall vibe. The neighborhood can significantly impact your quality of life and property value.
Home Age and Maintenance
Older homes might charm you with their character, but they often require more maintenance and upgrades. Ask about the age of key components like the roof, HVAC system, and appliances to anticipate future expenses. Understanding the maintenance needs of an older home can help you plan and budget accordingly.
Legal and Zoning Issues
Ensure there are no legal or zoning issues that could affect your use or enjoyment of the property. Verify property boundaries and check for any restrictions on renovations or additions you might plan. Being aware of legal and zoning considerations can prevent future headaches and ensure you can use the property as you intend.
Conclusion
When visiting open houses, it’s essential to look beyond the surface. Paying attention to these often-overlooked aspects can save you from unpleasant surprises and help you make a more informed decision. Bring a checklist, take notes, and don’t hesitate to ask the real estate agent or seller for additional information or clarification on any concerns. Remember, a well-informed buyer is a successful buyer.
Open House Insights
Introduction Exploring open houses gives you a close look at potential new homes. Whether you’re ready to buy or just browsing, these visits can offer essential information.
1. Structural Elements When touring an open house, concentrate on the home’s layout and structural features instead of temporary decorations like furniture and paint. Walk through key areas you’ll use daily, like from the garage to the kitchen to the bedroom, to see if the flow works for you. Notice the natural light, views, and check under rugs for floor condition.
2. Costly Issues Look for warning signs that could lead to expensive repairs:
- Foundation Cracks: Look for signs like misaligned doors, small ceiling cracks, sticky doors, sloping floors, or gaps at the baseboards.
- Roof Condition: Check the shingles’ state and ask about the roof’s age and maintenance history.
- Windows: Inspect windows for wear and tear.
- Plumbing: Look under sinks and in basements for signs of rust or leaks.
- Water Damage: Watch for discoloration on walls, ceilings, and floors, and be alert for musty smells.
3. Storage Needs Ensure the house has enough storage space for your belongings. Older homes might have less storage, so check closets, kitchen storage, and outdoor storage to avoid clutter.
4. Masked Odors Be cautious of strong scents from air fresheners, which might be hiding odors from pets, mold, or mildew. Inspect rugs, walls, ceilings, and floors for hidden problems.
5. Neighborhood Feel Consider the neighborhood as part of your investment. Walk around, talk to neighbors, and see if the area fits your lifestyle. Look for amenities like parks, shops, and a friendly community atmosphere.
6. Buyer Interest Note the number of people at the open house. A busy open house might mean high competition. Ask the listing agent about existing offers and work with your agent on a competitive offer if you’re interested.
7. Disclosed Issues Ask about any known problems with the house. Many states require disclosure of structural issues or code violations. Use this information to understand the property’s condition and ask the listing agent detailed questions about its market history and any price changes.
Conclusion Knowing what to look for during an open house can prevent unexpected costs and ensure the property meets your needs. Pair open house visits with private tours for a thorough inspection.
By focusing on these areas, you can make informed decisions and avoid surprises after purchase.