For years, California markets dominated realtor.com®’s hottest housing market list. But the Midwest and Northeast are drawing in more house hunters online. Several newer markets, including some known for housing affordability, are gaining momentum among home buyers, according to realtor.com®’s monthly rankings for April.
Each month, realtor.com® ranks markets based on how fast homes are selling and how many views the metro’s listings receive at its site. Last month, Boston, Lafayette, Ind., and Spokane, Wash., topped realtor.com®’s list of hottest housing markets.
Overall, six Midwestern markets and five Northeastern markets made it into realtor.com®’s top 20 list. The Midwest has long been known for its affordability, but the Northeast boasts some of the priciest markets in the U.S., such as Boston and New York City.
“Part of it is tax-related: There are places in the Northeast that are traditionally high-tax areas, but there are also lower-tax areas,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com®, about the two contrasts on this month’s hottest markets list.
Lafaytette, Ind. hit number two last month and has landed once again among the top three on realtor.com®’s list. Its ranking has moved up 18 spots over the past year. Spokane, Wash., appeared in the top three for the first time.
The 15 hottest housing markets for April, according to realtor.com®, are:
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H.
- Lafayette-West Lafayette, Ind.
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, Wash.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, Calif.
- Midland, Texas
- Rochester, N.Y.
- Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Odessa, Texas
- Worcester, Mass.-Conn.
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, Calif.
- Canton-Massillon, Ohio
- Manchester-Nashua, N.H.
- Modesto, Calif.
- Fort Wayne, Ind.
