A new ranking of the top fall housing markets finds 19 of the 20 are smaller cities located in the Northeast and Midwest. The ranking, done by the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, has Appleton, Wis., at the top of the list but says buyers will find a similar mix of affordability and quality of life in towns like South Bend, Ind., Manchester N.H., Lancaster, PA., and Fort Wayne, Ind. Hannah Jones, senior economist with the site, says value and quality are both part of the equation. “Higher mortgage rates have made the affordability challenge more acute, but they have also sharpened the search for markets where buyers can get more value for their money,” Jones said. “Appleton’s top ranking reflects a broad set of strengths rather than one standout metric, including a strong local economy, relatively low housing and living costs, steady demand, improving inventory, and a high quality of life.” (source)
