I’m a Real Estate Agent: 5 Best Places To Buy a Home This Spring
Written by
G. Brian Davis
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Wondering where you can score a great bargain on homes in a major city this spring?
Try these markets recommended by real estate agents and backed up with data. Also keep these up-and-coming U.S. neighborhoods if you’re thinking about buying a house this year.
1. Indianapolis
Home prices have remained flat over the past 12 months in Indianapolis, rising just 0.4%, according to Zillow. That’s allowed local incomes to catch up to home values that soared after the pandemic.
Still, Indianapolis remains one of the most affordable major cities in the country, with homes averaging $226,528. And a separate Zillow report ranked Indianapolis the number one most buyer-friendly city in 2026, forecasting 2.9% annual price growth.
“Affordable Midwestern cities like Indianapolis are now known as the nation’s ‘refuge markets,’ where you can find both affordable prices and lasting stability,” notes Daniel Harbuck of Helpful Realty.
2. Atlanta
Though slightly higher than the national average ($360,591), home prices in Atlanta ($381,549) have dropped by 4% over the last 12 months. That has made homes significantly more affordable as inflation and incomes have risen.
“Atlanta has seen a noticeable price correction as inventory has risen,” observes Blake Blahut of Realty ONE Group. Indeed, listings now sit on the market an average of 73 days per Zillow, helping buyers to negotiate purchases under listing price for 68% of listings.
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte has also seen home prices drop over the last year, dipping 1.4% to $393,846. Fully 61.2% of homes sell below the listing price.
Sain Rhodes, real estate agent and cofounder of Clever Offers, sees why Zillow ranked Charlotte the number three city for homebuyers this year.
“It has attractive fundamentals, with population growth exceeding 3% per annum, robust employment growth in tech and finance,” Rhodes explained. “And it remains more affordable than most East Coast cities.”
4. Jacksonville, Florida
With an average home price of $282,367, Jacksonville is exceptionally affordable as a major coastal Florida city. Two-thirds (66.5%) of homes sell under listing price, and sit on the market for an average of 54 days.
“Buyers have room to negotiate price and closing costs,” Blahut added. “Jacksonville is also a growing employment hub that has become attractive, especially for younger professionals.”
All of which helped Jacksonville land fourth on Zillow’s rankings of the best cities for homebuyers.
5. Columbus, Ohio
Columbus has come a long way in gentrifying and adding big-city amenities. Even so, it remains affordable at an average home price of $243,005 — a price that has dipped 0.6% over the past year. It landed 11th in Zillow’s rankings, with the platform forecasting home prices to rise 2.7% in 2026.
“For first-time buyers, Columbus also stands out as offering a great bang for buyers’ buck — an advantage hard to find on the coasts,” adds Harbuck.
Despite slim inventory and still-elevated interest rates, many markets around the country have shifted in buyers’ favor. Buyers can negotiate more and compete less, especially in the markets above.
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