Affordable Housing Boom Hits Rural Areas: 5 Best Places To Escape City Prices Today
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G. Brian Davis
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Zuri Anderson
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The average home costs $804,879 in New York City, according to Zillow. Prefer urban living on the West Coast? Expect homes to average $933,111 in Los Angeles.
Those kinds of outlandish home prices have sent many buyers looking for greener pastures — literally.
Check out these rural housing markets for more affordable homes and a breath of fresh air.
Cumberland, Maryland
Maryland is a small state, with easy access to the ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, the Appalachian Mountains and major cities like Washington D.C. and Baltimore. But that doesn’t mean you need to pay East Coast metropolis prices everywhere.
“Cumberland offers a combination of affordability and quality of life that’s getting harder to find near major metros,” notes Lesley Hurst, owner of Penn Charter Abstract. Homes in Cumberland average just $147,910, per Zillow.
Ocala, Florida
Not everywhere in Florida costs an arm and a leg. Professional real estate investor Austin Glanzer of 717HomeBuyers likes Ocala.
“Ocala is a great example of how rural and secondary markets are absorbing demand from higher-priced coastal cities,” he said.
Indeed, homes sell for $267,263 on average.
“For retirees and remote workers, it’s a practical way to live in Florida without paying premium prices,” Glanzer added.
Vineland, New Jersey
The Garden State is notoriously expensive, with homes averaging $558,805 statewide. Yet buyers can still get into Vineland for an average of $298,753.
“South Jersey markets like Vineland still offer value,” observes real estate investor Noah Barger with 2 Guys Buy Houses. “Buyers enjoy more space, lower purchase prices and a quieter lifestyle within driving distance of major employment centers.”
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
The “U.P.” is nothing if not rural and remote — which is exactly what so many residents love about it.
Real estate investor Oren Sofrin of Eagle Cash Buyers points out the $231,769 average home price in Marquette County.
“Buyers get proximity to natural assets like the Great Lakes, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, endless forest trail networks and snow recreation,” according to Sofrin.
Branson, Missouri
Best known for its late-career entertainment acts, Branson offers far more than most buyers realize.
“Branson features gorgeous lakes, endless outdoor activities and booming tourism,” notes Sain Rhodes, real estate expert with Clever Offers. Zillow pegs the average home price at $242,427, keeping it affordable as well.
Plenty of rural areas offer easy access to major cities and amenities like healthcare and airports, as well. Buyers looking for more space really can have it all — if they don’t mind driving a little further than in strip-mall suburban America.
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