14 Cities Where Houses Are the Best Bargains Right Now
It’s not like you can clip coupons for the next time you want to buy a house, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find locations that are practically a bargain bin. Yes, most housing markets are overheated, but some cooler real estate spots are a bit more financially approachable. Thanks to slower price growth, increased inventory and favorable market conditions, these places offer a lower cost of living and a chance to buy a home without overpaying.
To get a better idea of what housing markets have done in the last year, here are some national averages:
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $306,646
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $327,390
Annual home value growth: $20,744
Annual home value growth percentage: 6.76%
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Despite this overall trend upward in housing prices, MoneyLion’s research found 14 cities where houses are downright good deals right now, based on factors like median home prices and market trends. These locations stand out for offering cheap homes; if you’re looking for the best places to buy a house in today’s housing market, this list helps you identify where your money can go the furthest right now.
1. Ellisville, Mississippi
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $186,178
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $178,749
Annual home value growth: -$7,429
2. Minot, North Dakota
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $267,067
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $273,173
Annual home value growth: $6,106
3. Ferndale, Michigan
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $240,955
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $241,614
Annual home value growth: $659
4. Savannah, Georgia
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $335,183
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $323,291
Annual home value growth: -$11,892
5. Chalmette, Louisiana
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $213,574
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $205,752
Annual home value growth: -$7,822
6. Newark, Ohio
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $231,527
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $235,239
Annual home value growth: $3,713
7. Chicago Ridge, Illinois
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $274,769
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $280,960
Annual home value growth: $6,191
8. Saginaw, Texas
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $305,598
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $294,605
Annual home value growth: -$10,993
9. Princeton, Texas
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $323,922
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $295,186
Annual home value growth: -$28,736
10. North Branch, Minnesota
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $335,011
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $341,511
Annual home value growth: $6,500
11. Mehlville, Missouri
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $250,532
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $255,406
Annual home value growth: $4,874
12. Angier, North Carolina
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $335,804
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $329,789
Annual home value growth: -$6,015
13. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $338,863
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $341,782
Annual home value growth: $2,918
14. Brookhaven, Pennsylvania
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2025: $271,518
Average home value as of Jan. 31, 2026: $276,227
Annual home value growth: $4,709
Methodology: To discover the cities where houses are suddenly a bargain, MoneyLion first found the (1) January 2026 single-family residence (SFR) home value for every U.S. city, and the national average as sourced from Zillow. Those cities with SFR home values below the national average for January 2025 were moved on to the next factor (2), January 2026 SFR home values. Those remaining cities with a January 2026 SFR home value lower than the state average were deemed to be “suddenly bargains” and were moved on to the next set of factors. To be included in the top 15, the above criteria had to be met and the January 2026 SFR home value in each city had to be below (3) the state’s January 2026 average home value. The 15 largest cities that met all the criteria laid out above were included in the final ranking. MoneyLion also found the (4) January 2025 to January 2026 growth in SFR home value and (5) percent change in January 2025 to January 2026 SFR home value for each city and state as supplemental data. All figures were sourced from Zillow and up to date as of Feb. 17, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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