Housing values have jumped in recent years. Since the pandemic began, the median home price in the U.S. is up 32.4%, to $331,533.
But in 12 cities, the rise has been stratospheric. These dozen metros have recorded at least a 40% increase in home price appreciation, according to newly released figures from real estate website Zillow.
If you own a home in one of the following cities, you are likely smiling all the way to a bank. But if you hope to buy a home in one of these metros, you might be out of luck.
Las Vegas
Typical home value in this metro: $416,647
Increase in home value since February 2020: 41.9%
Anyone who bought a home in Las Vegas two years ago and bet on rising prices drew a winning hand.
The surge in values is a big turnaround from the housing bust of the mid-2000s, when Nevada was among the hardest-hit states.
Newly arrived Californians fleeing high prices in their home state are a factor in pushing Vegas prices north, reports say.
Atlanta
Typical home value in this metro: $353,691
Increase in home value since February 2020: 43.1%
Is Georgia on your mind? Prepare to dig deep into your wallet if you settle in Atlanta.
In fact, homebuyers in the metro currently are paying about 10% above the listing price for homes.
Nashville
Typical home value in this metro: $416,472
Increase in home value since February 2020: 43.1%
Somewhere, a country singer in a Nashville dive bar is crooning that his wife left, his dog ran away and he can’t even afford a humble home.
Soaring home prices in the metro have some people whispering the “b” word — as in “bubble.”
Jacksonville, Florida
Typical home value in this metro: $334,960
Increase in home value since February 2020: 43.1%
Like Nevada, Florida took it on the chin in the last housing bust. But values have finally recovered and are soaring to new heights in places like Jacksonville.
In a hopeful sign for homebuyers, it appears prices in Jacksonville may be stabilizing a bit.
Riverside, California
Typical home value in this metro: $555,853
Increase in home value since February 2020: 43.6%
The Golden State is no stranger to high home prices. But in Riverside, housing typically has been more affordable than in other parts of Southern California.
Not so much today. Even higher mortgage rates are not cooling demand, with prices now topping $600,000.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Typical home value in this metro: $353,106
Increase in home value since February 2020: 43.7%
How tough is it to find a reasonably priced home in Charlotte? Two North Carolina members of Congress have introduced a bill that would change federal rules to make it easier to use relief funds associated with the COVID-19 pandemic for affordable housing projects.
San Diego
Typical home value in this metro: $880,414
Increase in home value since February 2020: 44%
Pity the poor homeowners of San Diego, who are seeing hot housing prices start to cool a bit.
Yes, folks, in February, home values in this metro climbed a mere $13,000. The previous month, prices had jumped $38,300.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Typical home value in this metro: $420,228
Increase in home value since February 2020: 46.3%
North Carolina’s other large city — Raleigh — also has seen values skyrocket during the pandemic.
Raleigh-area real estate agent Monique Edwards captured video of a long line of hopeful home shoppers snaking around one house that was being shown.
Edwards’ reaction to the spectacle acts as a summary of the housing market nationwide: “It’s absolutely insane.”
Salt Lake City
Typical home value in this metro: $575,579
Increase in home value since February 2020: 47.9%
We’ve come to expect housing prices in the neighborhood of $600,000 in California. But Salt Lake City?
Median home prices in Salt Lake County and Utah County now are approaching those lofty heights.
Tampa, Florida
Typical home value in this metro: $341,997
Increase in home value since February 2020: 49.7%
With housing values exploding in Tampa, many people have no choice but to rent — if they can afford to even do that.
Soaring rents pushed the City of Tampa to create a rental assistance program. In just days, the $1 million earmarked for the fund was gone. Now, folks are joining a waiting list in hopes of getting aid soon.
Phoenix
Typical home value in this metro: $442,976
Increase in home value since February 2020: 55.3%
The supply of affordable homes is drying up in the desert. A recent forecast calls for record-breaking prices to climb even higher in Phoenix into 2023. And that is on top of sharp gains in 2020 and 2021.
Austin, Texas
Typical home value in this metro: $573,123
Increase in home value since February 2020: 68.6%
Austin famously celebrates its weirdness. So, perhaps it’s no surprise that home price gains in the capital of Texas are, well, downright bizarre.
Since the pandemic began, home values are up a hard-to-fathom 68.6%.
The good news? If the city wants to start an aid program for those struggling to afford new digs, a recent transplant to Austin — Elon Musk, the world’s richest man — probably could fund the project all on his own.
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