I believe Monty Python said it best. “And Now for Something Completely Different.” You may think you’ve read articles that look similar to this one, but you have not. You believe Gildshire is about to offer up a list of low prices, but they will be low-priced homes in the ugliest towns in America. “They never find low prices in a place I would like to live.” That’s your lament, and it is usually pretty accurate. That’s because you haven’t spent enough time with us. We never recommend bad towns to good readers. These are cities and towns where Gildshire would put a satellite office. Places where the family will come for next Thanksgiving. They are vacation paradis…okay, we won’t go there (except for one city that you will see shortly), but these places have a lot to offer, and where home prices are actually going down!
Arlington has seen home prices drop a little more than five percent this year.
Arlington, VA: Northern Virginia is thriving now, and Arlington has seen home prices drop a little more than five percent this year alone! Anything over 3% a year is a significant movement. The Waycroft/Woodlawn area is a nice one and one we would recommend checking out.
Santa Rosa is a medium-sized city that has 175,000 residents.
Santa Rosa, CA: An hour from San Francisco and in the sweet spot of wine country you will find Santa Rosa. This medium-sized city has 175,000 residents and has seen home prices drop at a rate equal to Arlington. Sadly, the wildfires fires that blazed through northern California in 2017 have impacted the area’s property values. On the flip side, now would be a good time to invest here. We would consider Villa Los Alamos, located just west of Highway 101, as an area for your consideration.
The warm weather resonates with those who move to Lafayette.
Lafayette, LA: A great many millennials find Lafayette an affordable and welcoming place to establish roots. The warm weather and the warm welcome the Bayou is known for resonates with those who move to Lafayette. The area that includes Zip Code 70503, near the University, is a hot spot for homebuyers looking to relocate. The Beau Savanne subdivision is another.
Listed home prices in Honolulu fell 2% in the last 12 months.
Honolulu, HI: We hinted about at least one paradise that you would find on this list. Listed home prices in Honolulu fell 2% in the last 12 months. Be careful about planning a move to Hawaii without due diligence, as prices on Oahu still sit out of most of our price ranges. What part of Honolulu is the best? Trust us, if you find a home you like, and can afford, on Oahu, that is the best place.
The average sale price for a Birmingham home is $69,000.
Birmingham, AL: Home prices in Birmingham haven’t dropped as much as they have in other cities on Gildshire’s list. That said, they have come down, and home prices in Birmingham are lower here than most places where you would want to live. Oh, you want hard data numbers? The average sale price for a Birmingham home is $69,000. If you are interested in this southern city that is more cosmopolitan than you know, think about the Vestavia Hills neighborhood.
Fair Oaks Ranch, northwest on I-10, offers good value in San Antonio.
San Antonio, TX: Known for real estate that is both accessible and affordable, it is not a surprise that San Antonio made this list. Home prices are down 2.13% this year in the Alamo city. Fair Oaks Ranch, northwest on I-10, offers good values in great neighborhoods.
We think the Atwater subdivision is a solid choice.
Naperville, Illinois: This small city of almost 150,000 boasts a bustling shopping district wrapped around historical relevance. It’s a great town to call home and a Gildshire favorite in Chicagoland. Home prices down a bit here, but that’s a stark contrast compared to many other suburbs of the Windy City. We think the Atwater subdivision is a solid choice for someone looking to relocate here.
Your Gildshire friends know that buying a home is a hassle. We trust that this list offers the beginning of clarity. Good luck, we can’t wait to find out what you chose!
(We especially can’t wait to see what you chose, if it was in Honolulu. When is the housewarming?)
