Ten Cities Where Affordability Is Rising—And Ten Cities Where It Is Not

Out of the top hundred metro areas in the nation, Realtor.com found the cities where affordability is changing the most. And for some like Tulsa, Oklahoma, the market is heating up, driving up prices and sparking fierce bidding wars that real estate agents have not seen in years.

But becoming more or less affordable does not mean cities are now cheap or that you’ll be suddenly priced out. Take San Francisco for instance: while it made the list of cities with dropping prices, only 18 percent of locals can afford the available listings.

After nearly a decade of ever-escalating home prices and frenzied bidding wars, many buyers are wondering if finding an affordable piece of real estate has become about as likely as discovering a mint condition Honus Wagner baseball card in your stuff drawer, a double eagle coin on your dresser, or a unicorn in your driveway.

But wait! The list of markets where folks can score a home without shattering the bank is, in fact, growing. About 81% of housing markets have become more affordable since the beginning of the year, according to a realtor.com® report.

Reality check: This doesn't necessarily mean that it's suddenly a cinch to become a homeowner in these areas, only that it's getting a little better for tapped-out buyers. And in a hot market, every little bit helps.

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