F or renters in costly coastal markets, moving to a Southern city like Birmingham or San Antonio could cut the income needed to qualify for a mortgage by 40%. Zillow’s latest ranking of the best cities for first-time home buyers puts five Southern or Southern-bordering metros at the top—not because they’re the cheapest, but because they balance affordability, supply, and competition in a way that lowers the real barrier to homeownership.
Related Brief 3d ago
first-time homebuyers Homeownership Is Still Possible for First-Time Buyers—If They’re in the Right City
For median-income renters hoping to buy their first home, the path is still open—if they’re in the right city. Zillow’s latest report identifies 10 U.S. markets where first-time homebuyers face significantly better odds, thanks to lower rent burdens, more affordable listings, less competition, and a concentration of residents in prime homebuying years. These cities—Jacksonville, Birmingham, San Antonio, Atlanta, Houston, St. Louis, Detroit, Raleigh, Baltimore, and Louisville—are clustered in the Sun Belt and Midwest, where housing costs have not outpaced income growth as dramatically as in coastal markets. In these metros, renters earning the median household income spend a smaller share of their pay on rent, freeing up savings for a down payment. A larger share of active for-sale listings are priced within reach of those median earners. And because there are more affordable homes available per renter household, competition is less intense than in pricier, supply-starved regions. Six of the top 10 cities are in the Sun Belt, where relatively low rents, attainable inventory, and favorable demographics converge to make homeownership a realistic next step. For first-time buyers, the lesson is not that the national market has become affordable—but that location still determines opportunity. In these cities, the math still works.
The analysis covers the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, scored across four factors: rent affordability, the share of affordable for-sale listings, buyer competition, and the concentration of households aged 29 to 43. No single city leads in every category, but the highest-ranked ones—Birmingham, San Antonio, Houston, St. Louis, and Detroit—perform consistently well across all.
Related Brief 3d ago
real estate Jacksonville housing market offers first-time buyers increased negotiating power
First-time buyers in Jacksonville can secure better pricing and terms. This increased negotiating power comes as inventory rises and competition decreases in the market. Zillow ranked Jacksonville as the best large U.S. housing market for first-time homebuyers this spring based on an analysis of the 50 largest metro areas. The ranking is driven by improving affordability and a rebound in housing supply, which has been more rapid in the Sun Belt and Midwest than in coastal metro areas.
Affordability alone doesn’t win the ranking. What sets these markets apart is lower buyer competition, meaning fewer bidding wars and less pressure to overpay. That dynamic increases the odds of securing a home at or near asking price, a critical advantage for buyers without generational wealth or large down payments.
Related Brief 11h ago
housing affordability In Saskatchewan, low supply is the true driver of record prices — not demand alone
In Saskatoon, if no new homes come to market, there will be none left to buy within two months. That reality is reshaping how first-time buyers enter the market, as inventory sits 50% below normal levels and competition drives prices to record highs. The provincial benchmark price rose to $374,100 last month, with Saskatoon’s average reaching $435,200 — an all-time high. Regina followed at $343,700. These figures reflect not just demand, but a supply vacuum. With less than a two-month supply of homes, the market is technically in a state of exhaustion. Sellers hold all leverage. Some homes sell within hours. The average overbid in Saskatoon now ranges between $34,000 and $36,000. One agent reported offers as high as $120,000 above asking. Buyers who can’t or won’t overpay are turning to other tactics: submitting bank pre-approvals, matching the seller’s preferred closing date, increasing their deposit, or writing personal letters explaining why they want the home. Patrick Arno, a first-time buyer, said finding a home felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. He and his wife wanted an open-concept house with space for their dog, a garage, and potential for a basement suite. They compromised, stayed patient, and after two months, closed on a home for $10,000 below asking price. Most aren’t that lucky.
These cities also have a relatively high share of homes listed at price points accessible to first-time buyers, paired with rents low enough to allow for savings. The presence of a large population between 29 and 43 suggests built-in demand and cultural alignment with entry-level homeownership.
Related Brief Just now
retirement planning You pay the tax now so your heirs won’t have to
You pay the tax now so your heirs won’t have to. That’s the core tradeoff behind a Roth IRA conversion — a move that shifts the tax burden from your beneficiaries to yourself, on your terms. For most non-spouse heirs, inherited traditional IRAs come with a 10-year rule: all funds must be withdrawn by the end of the decade following the account holder’s death. Every dollar pulled out is taxed as ordinary income, potentially pushing a beneficiary into a high tax bracket at a moment of emotional and financial strain. Spouses can roll over a deceased partner’s traditional IRA into their own, but taxes remain inevitable on every withdrawal. A Roth IRA conversion changes that equation. When you convert a traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth, you pay income taxes on the converted amount in the year of the transfer. That’s not an escape — it’s a relocation. The benefit? Once the account has been open for at least five years, all withdrawals, including earnings, are tax-free for your heirs. Non-spouse beneficiaries still must empty the account within 10 years, but they do so without a single dollar going to the IRS. You control when the tax hit occurs: during a market downturn, in a low-income year, or gradually over several years to stay within a favorable tax bracket. And because you can pay the conversion tax with outside funds, you preserve the full balance of your retirement account for tax-free growth. The IRS doesn’t allow loopholes — just options. This is one where the math and the legacy align.
For those stuck in high-rent, high-competition markets, the path to ownership may not run through refinancing or waiting for prices to drop—it may run south.
Related Brief 8h ago
taxation The IRS flags the Earned Income Tax Credit as a high-scrutiny area for improper payments
Taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) face high scrutiny from the IRS. The IRS approximates that 25% of the claimed EITC credits offered in 2018 were improper payments. Because the EITC is a refundable credit that puts money into taxpayers’ pockets, it is one of the most closely reviewed credits by the agency. When the IRS flags a refund error, it can delay, reduce, or penalize the refund.
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