When I got back to the U.S. one of the first things I did (besides dine at Cattle Baron, Jerry knows why
), was visit Barnes and Noble and buy some financial news, YUMMY! Have I missed that stuff! Anyways, Jun 05 issue of Money is about, HOUSING, and includes a real estate guide for 05.
Even if you do NOT own a home, I encourage you to go to the library and read it or go to a store and buy it. You will be amazed at how housing prices are soaring above expectations (especially in San Diego and N.Y.C. and Miami) yet incomes are roughly the same and payments are small. Never before in our nation's history have we seen such an economy in housing, and it is a boom for some, yet a bust for others.
There are many interesting things to read besides market values, like renovations that really pay off, and other personal finance items as well.
Best values? Indianapolis, where a home is 1.8 times the typical income. Nashville has a median home price of 139k, and Dallas, which is in a economic boom right now jobwise, and renting is just 6% less than a mortgage payment. I'll take the house payment over rent at that rate any day of the week!
California and Florida and N.Y.C. are becoming too expensive to buy for those that have not bought before 2000.
Good for EZKill and Ravok and others, but bad for people who want own a home and earn average salaries.