Looking for a Good Deal on a Home? These are the 10 Best Areas to Watch in 2020

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Looking for a Good Deal on a Home? These are the 10 Best Areas to Watch in 2020

Cassie Damewood · Mar 19, 2020
Bal Harbour, Fort Lauderdale, FL

You may be at the stage of house hunting where you’re cozying up to realtors in your area with plates of warm cookies, or gazing longingly at fixer-uppers you quickly realize you have no skills to actually fix. The reality is you may have to pack up the family and relocate to find a nice home you can afford.

Redfin, a major real estate brokerage firm, recently released a report on buying trends and used them to determine the country’s best neighborhoods with the most affordable housing. The average price of these homes is less than $500,000, and half of the best deals are in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Without further ado, here are the 10 neighborhoods no prospective homeowner should be ignoring in 2020:

Willowsford, Ashburn, VA (Washington, D.C. Metro)

Average Sale Price: $918,059
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $412,433
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 16.3
Average Days on Market: 51

If you want a new house that’s about 15 minutes from major work hubs and important transportation options like Washington Dulles International Airport, Reston Town Center, Route 28, the Dulles Toll Road, and I-66, this is the perfect location for you.

Willowsford is a fairly new housing development that’s very well-liked based on its locality and neighborhood services. The houses are large and contemporary with stylish countryside exteriors. The area also offers an abundance of swimming pools, community events, ponds, a farm, and over 40 miles of hiking trails.

Bal Harbour, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Average Sale Price: $747,500
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $270,000
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 4.8
Average Days on Market: 109

If you’ve always dreamed of living on beachfront property, you’ll never find it more beautiful and affordable than at Bal Harbour. Yes, many of the homes here have paths leading straight to the beach, along with some truly breathtaking views. Most are not nearly as pricey as nearby Fort Lauderdale homes with similar amenities. Best of all, there are lots of shopping centers nearby and popular anchor stores popping up every day.

Wildwood, Charlotte, NC

Average Sale Price: $181,000
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $259,900
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 35.7
Average Days on Market: 32

Can’t spend more than $250,000 on a new home? Head to Wildwood, a quick 15 minutes from the heart of Charlotte. You can find a charming ranch-style, brick home here for well under that price — and don’t worry, it won’t be in some mass-produced development that lacks individuality. Neighborhoods like Wildwood are growing rapidly in this area to steer clear of the new I-77 toll road.

West Arvada, CO (Denver Metro)

Average Sale Price: $376,500
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $415,925
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 17.9
Average Days on Market: 41

Living close to nature is a must-have for many homeowners, and West Arvada meets that requirement while still being only 20 minutes away from Boulder, 20 to 25 minutes from downtown Denver, and 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Golden. There’s a whole host of lakes, hiking and biking trails, and large dog parks nearby, as well as schools with some of the best ratings you’ll find anywhere. There’s also a lively old town district with numerous shops, breweries, and restaurants, as well as a new light rail station.

Waverly Hills, Arlington, VA (Washington, D.C. Metro)

Average Sale Price: $322,500
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $412,433
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 50.8
Average Days on Market: 6

Waverly Hills. Even the name of the town evokes a feeling of peace and quiet. It’s full of rolling hills, full-grown trees, and a way of life that encourages neighborly interaction. The homes are all distinctive, some with restructured history and others that reflect unique new architectural influences. Traffic is minimal and residents can easily walk to schools, shops, cafés, restaurants, parks, and every type of public transportation. Best of all, D.C., the Pentagon, and Amazon HQ2 are all nearby to offer major employment opportunities, theatre, culture, and sporting events.

Adamsdale, North Attleboro, MA (Providence Metro)

Average Sale Price: $400,000
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $286,000
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 39.5
Average Days on Market: 41

Easy entrance to three states is a unique and handy feature to have, and Adamsdale has that and more. It’s located in Massachusetts and borders Cumberland, Rhode Island, making it an ideal location for those looking to frequent Providence or Boston via the handy commuter rail. You can live in an affordable down-home neighborhood and still have easy access to shopping, entertainment, and major highways.

Poplar Grove, Indianapolis, IN

Average Sale Price: $182,300
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $190,000
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 28.3
Average Days on Market: 10

Another ultra-affordable city, Poplar Grove is quickly growing due to an influx of first-time homeowners settling there to start families. It’s close to enjoyable destinations such as Fountain Square, Downtown Indianapolis, and Irvington. Best of all, nearby Indianapolis has invested heavily to make the southeast side of downtown more accessible to Poplar Grove’s residents, with new walking trails, multi-use projects, and improved transportation.

West Ridge, Woodinville, WA (Seattle Metro)

Average Sale Price: $934,997
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $562,300
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 14.7
Average Days on Market: 36

This area, full of older homes and apartment/condo complexes, was a great place to find an affordable home before the impact of the Woodinville wine country exploded and the new Totem Lake town center opened. The good news is you can still find good deals here if you’re hooked up with the right realtor.

Raleigh, Memphis, TN

Average Sale Price: $96,450
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $185,000
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 19.7
Average Days on Market: 39

The Raleigh region typically has the lowest prices in the area, with many homes going for less than $150,000. Many are owned by out-of-state investors, who also own a big chunk of the apartments in the district.

Old Town Rocklin, CA (Sacramento Metro)

Old Town Rocklin, California.

Average Sale Price: $499,995
Average Sale Price for Metropolitan Area: $410,000
Percentage of Homes that Sold Higher than Listing Price: 20.5
Average Days on Market: 46

Hear ye, all hipsters and young adults who want to buy a home in a town that never sleeps. Once a depressed graveyard for vacant strip malls, Old Town Rocklin is now a hotbed of activities for families, featuring family-owned restaurants, trendy breweries, a gigantic adventure park called Quarry Park, and an outdoor amphitheater that hosts summer concerts. Residents can also enjoy car shows, local food trucks, and festivals. New houses are going up every day here, and many are affordably priced.

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