FILE - A large brick home with for sale sign in front yard in North Carolina. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
First-time homebuyers are still navigating a difficult housing market, but experts say conditions are improving slightly in some parts of the country.
Zillow released its 2026 best markets for people who are purchasing their very first home.
Here's where:
Dig deeper:
Zillow analyzed 50 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas and based its ranking on four measures:
- More affordable rent today
- More homes within reach
- Less competition for affordable listings
- More households in prime homebuying years
Big picture view:
Most of Zillow’s top 10 markets for first-time homebuyers are located in the Sun Belt and Midwest.
Many of the cities in the Sun Belt ranked high because of its large inventory, giving buyers more choices.
The Midwest offered relatively affordable home prices when compared to average incomes.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a 2026 Zillow analysis. This story was reported from San Jose.