Zillow names Jacksonville the best market for first-time buyers this spring
Improving affordability and rising inventory are easing the path to homeownership in markets across the
Jacksonville ranks No. 1 among the 50 largestU.S. metros for first-time buyers, followed byBirmingham ,San Antonio ,Atlanta andHouston .- Six of the top 10 markets are in the
Sun Belt , where improving inventory and relative affordability make for better conditions for first-time buyers. - Top-ranked markets combine lower rent burdens, more affordable listings and less competition, creating a clearer path to homeownership. In top-ranked markets, up to 68% of listings are affordable to a median-income household.
Zillow's best markets for first-time home buyers in 2026:
Jacksonville Birmingham San Antonio Atlanta Houston St. Louis Detroit Raleigh Baltimore Louisville
"First-time buyers are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel," said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. "Affordability is still a challenge, but rising incomes, stabilizing prices and improving inventory are creating real opportunities in parts of the country. In the strongest markets for first-time buyers, they'll find more choices, less competition and a clearer path to homeownership than they've had in years."
Even in the most favorable markets, challenges remain. Rising mortgage rates have eaten into affordability gains, and inventory remains 20% below pre-pandemic norms. However, broadly speaking, first-time buyers are in a better place than last year. Affordability has still improved from a year ago — just to a lesser degree — and that inventory deficit is much narrower than it was a few years ago.
Conditions vary widely across the country. In many large coastal metros, high home prices and rents continue to make it difficult for renters to save for a down payment, while limited affordable inventory keeps competition relatively strong. In contrast, many markets in the South and Midwest offer a more favorable combination of affordability and availability.
Zillow previously ranked this year's most buyer-friendly markets, led by
Tips for buyers:
- Buyers in a top market should take advantage of their negotiating power. More homes within reach and less competition can create more room to negotiate on price and terms. A great agent can help spot opportunities and negotiate effectively.
- In tougher markets, flexibility is key. Broadening a search or adjusting expectations can help unlock more options.
Tips for sellers:
- Price with today's buyers in mind. Affordability is still a constraint, especially for first-time buyers, so realistic pricing can help attract stronger interest.
- Use early buyer signals to your advantage. Zillow Preview℠ allows sellers to gauge demand through saves, shares and tour requests before their listing officially hits the market, helping refine pricing and marketing strategy.
Methodology
Zillow's ranking evaluates conditions in the 50 largest
- Rent affordability, measured as the share of median household income spent on typical rent.
- The share of for-sale listings affordable to a median-income household.
- The number of affordable listings relative to the number of renter households, a proxy for expected competition.
- The share of households headed by people ages 29–43, a key home-buying cohort, to measure a market's appeal to buyers looking to build a community among their peers.
Metropolitan |
| Affordable Listings for | Affordable Listings | Share of |
23.1 % | 47.8 % | 5.9 | 36.3 % | |
21.1 % | 55.6 % | 6.2 | 32.9 % | |
20.2 % | 47.4 % | 4.5 | 36.4 % | |
22.3 % | 45.2 % | 4.3 | 37.4 % | |
22.7 % | 40.2 % | 3.1 | 39.7 % | |
19.5 % | 67.7 % | 3.6 | 33.3 % | |
21.8 % | 64.8 % | 4.2 | 32.8 % | |
18.4 % | 48.0 % | 2.7 | 35.9 % | |
21.5 % | 61.8 % | 3.0 | 34.5 % | |
20.9 % | 54.1 % | 3.8 | 33.8 % | |
21.3 % | 57.6 % | 3.7 | 33.4 % | |
17.9 % | 30.4 % | 1.9 | 39.1 % | |
21.1 % | 49.2 % | 1.8 | 37.6 % | |
19.4 % | 33.2 % | 2.1 | 38.8 % | |
22.6 % | 41.0 % | 3.0 | 37.4 % | |
19.9 % | 38.2 % | 2.6 | 36.9 % | |
23.8 % | 46.4 % | 3.3 | 35.9 % | |
27.0 % | 29.0 % | 2.7 | 39.8 % | |
23.3 % | 53.9 % | 2.1 | 35.3 % | |
21.8 % | 33.0 % | 3.6 | 35.2 % | |
21.1 % | 62.9 % | 4.1 | 29.4 % | |
20.1 % | 56.1 % | 3.2 | 31.6 % | |
19.4 % | 53.7 % | 3.1 | 31.5 % | |
21.5 % | 60.8 % | 3.2 | 31.2 % | |
28.6 % | 32.4 % | 4.5 | 36.3 % | |
18.1 % | 29.8 % | 1.6 | 37.1 % | |
22.1 % | 21.5 % | 0.6 | 41.3 % | |
20.3 % | 47.7 % | 1.8 | 34.3 % | |
21.6 % | 70.9 % | 1.7 | 31.2 % | |
21.1 % | 40.3 % | 4.3 | 31.1 % | |
24.6 % | 39.9 % | 2.5 | 34.6 % | |
23.2 % | 14.0 % | 0.2 | 41.7 % | |
20.4 % | 24.9 % | 1.1 | 37.1 % | |
22.6 % | 55.6 % | 2.8 | 30.4 % | |
26.8 % | 43.5 % | 1.7 | 35.9 % | |
24.5 % | 28.0 % | 2.5 | 35.8 % | |
22.8 % | 38.4 % | 1.4 | 35.3 % | |
22.8 % | 29.0 % | 2.3 | 34.6 % | |
21.8 % | 50.3 % | 1.8 | 31.8 % | |
37.3 % | 29.6 % | 5.0 | 34.4 % | |
25.9 % | 20.1 % | 0.4 | 38.4 % | |
28.8 % | 22.9 % | 2.2 | 35.7 % | |
30.9 % | 16.6 % | 1.3 | 38.2 % | |
25.4 % | 17.0 % | 0.7 | 35.8 % | |
29.8 % | 11.3 % | 0.3 | 39.1 % | |
22.8 % | 42.0 % | 1.1 | 30.0 % | |
29.7 % | 19.5 % | 0.5 | 34.5 % | |
33.9 % | 5.6 % | 0.1 | 36.3 % | |
29.1 % | 11.6 % | 0.3 | 31.6 % | |
37.1 % | 16.3 % | 0.5 | 33.3 % |
* | A listing is considered affordable if the monthly mortgage payment (including estimates for taxes, maintenance and insurance) would take up no more than 30% of median household income, assuming a 20% down payment. |
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