Do you feel like you paid way too much for a home that is far too small? If so, you might want to consider moving to a different housing market.
Recently, real estate website Zillow looked at the median number of square feet that a $3,000 mortgage payment would buy you in various metropolitan areas. Depending on where you live, that payment could get you anywhere from a small home of 1,052 square feet to a relative palace of 3,900 square feet.
Following are the metros where buyers get the most square feet for their money.
10. Atlanta
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,122 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 259 square feet
Atlanta is one of the biggest cities in the South, and you can get a lot of square footage here at a decent price. In fact, all of Georgia made the list of the 10 states with the largest homes.
9. Kansas City, Missouri
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,125 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 171 square feet
Perhaps the fact that you can get a large home at an affordable price is one of the reasons why Kansas City is among “The Top 10 Housing Markets for 2023, According to Zillow.”
8. Cincinnati
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,258 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 218 square feet
Looking for a place to retire where you can get a larger home and enjoy all four seasons? Cincinnati is among “The Most Popular Affordable Cities for Retirees.”
7. Richmond, Virginia
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,283 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 223 square feet
Don’t overlook Richmond: Not only can you get a big but affordable home here, but this place is also among the “15 Affordable Cities With the Most 6-Figure Jobs.”
6. Birmingham, Alabama
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,312 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 198 square feet
If you are just starting out in life and want a larger home that is reasonably priced, consider Birmingham. The north-central Alabama city is among “The Best U.S. Cities to Find a Starter Home.”
5. Houston
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,395 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 213 square feet
One of the nation’s biggest cities, Houston is also a great choice for those who are tired of housing-price volatility. It made the list of “The 15 Most Stable U.S. Housing Markets.”
4. Oklahoma City
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,406 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 206 square feet
If you plan to go your own way, Oklahoma City is waiting to welcome you with big, affordable homes and open arms. The city is on the list of “15 Cities With the Most Self-Employed Workers.”
3. Cleveland
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,512 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 265 square feet
If you are not quite ready to buy a big home yet and prefer to rent for a while, Cleveland might be a good choice. It is one of just a handful of cities where rent is actually affordable.
2. Indianapolis
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,732 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 298 square feet
Large, affordable homes might help explain why Indianapolis made the list of “The 15 Fastest-Growing Metro Areas in the U.S.”
1. Memphis, Tennessee
Median home size afforded by a $3,000 mortgage payment as of January 2023: 3,900 square feet
Change in that size since October 2022: Increase of 346 square feet
Shoppers on a tight budget can get more square-footage bang for their buck in Memphis than anywhere else.
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