While the real estate market is finally showing signs of cooling after a year of skyrocketing home prices and bidding wars, desirable metros across the U.S. can expect a big year in 2022.
A recent analysis by Realtor.com of next year’s top housing markets revealed areas in Washington, Massachusetts and Florida that are primed to be popular relocation spots in the new year.
“Our top housing markets are attracting remote-minded workers, possibly interested in snagging a big-city salary while still enjoying the quality of life that these generally smaller areas afford,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com.
The nation’s top markets of 2022 are primarily tech hubs in the Mountain West and Midwest that offer an affordable alternative to overpriced cities on the coasts. In addition, these are areas with healthy economies, low unemployment rates and substantial job growth, the report noted.
For this forecast, data was analyzed on the anticipated growth of home sales and home prices in 2022 compared to 2021 in the top 100 largest metro areas.
Here are Realtor.com’s predictions for the Top 10 hottest real estate markets in 2022:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Median home price: $564,062
Anticipated price growth: 8.5%
Anticipated sales growth: 15.2%
Boise, Idaho
Median home price: $503,959
Anticipated price growth: 7.9%
Anticipated sales growth: 12.9%
Spokane, Washington
Median home price: $419,803
Anticipated price growth: 7.7%
Anticipated sales growth: 12.8%
Indianapolis, Indiana
Median home price: $272,401
Anticipated price growth: 5.5%
Anticipated sales growth: 14.8%
Columbus, Ohio
Median home price: $298,523
Anticipated price growth: 6.3%
Anticipated sales growth: 13.7%
Providence, Rhode Island
Median home price: $419,813
Anticipated price growth: 9.6%
Anticipated sales growth: 8.1%
Greenville, South Carolina
Median home price: $305,078
Anticipated price growth: 5.7%
Anticipated sales growth: 11.4%
Seattle, Washington
Median home price: $666,754
Anticipated price growth: 7.5%
Anticipated sales growth: 9.6%
Worcester, Massachusetts
Median home price: $397,188
Anticipated price growth: 8.2%
Anticipated sales growth: 8.4%
Tampa, Florida
Median home price: $335,814
Anticipated price growth: 6.8%
Anticipated sales growth: 9.6%
With competition in these areas expected to increase in the next year, prices will continue to surge — a win for sellers, but another potential roadblock for buyers.
“Buyers in these areas can look forward to a competitive market that will require a focused approach,” Hale said in the report. That means setting a firm budget and a list of true must-haves “so you don’t get carried away in a bidding war.”