Do I Have to Move to a Cheaper City to Afford My First Home?
Short answer: probably not. A new national report named the 22 metros where every starter home is affordable for a median-earning local household, and they are mostly in the Midwest, Texas, and the East Coast. The East Valley did not make that particular list, but that does not mean a first home here is out of reach. Here is how to read the list, and what it really means for you.
Here is the direct answer, up front: no, you almost certainly do not have to move to a cheaper city to buy your first home. A recent national report highlighted 22 metros where every single starter-home listing is affordable for a median-earning local household, and they cluster in the Midwest, Texas, and along the East Coast. The East Valley is not on that specific list, and that is worth understanding rather than fearing, because the list measures one narrow thing, and it leaves out the tools and strategies that make a first home here very achievable. Let us break down what the ranking actually says.
Income-required figures below: Redfin analysis based on June home sale prices, mortgage costs, and property taxes.
| A few of the 22 most affordable starter metros | Income to afford |
|---|---|
| Detroit | $30,511 |
| Pittsburgh | $41,213 |
| Cleveland | $43,336 |
| St. Louis | $44,049 |
| Houston | $70,384 |
| Dallas | $83,096 |
| Austin, Texas | $92,607 |
| Washington, D.C. | $107,583 |
Notice something in that list. The income needed swings enormously, from around thirty thousand in the most affordable metro to over a hundred thousand in the priciest one that still qualified. Affordability is deeply local, which is exactly why a national ranking is a starting point for curiosity, not a verdict on where you can live.
What does this list actually measure?
The ranking flags metros where essentially all starter homes fit a median local income within a standard budget. That is a useful but narrow test, and it is worth knowing what it leaves out.
The list compares a single median local income against local prices under a fixed set of assumptions. Your income, your savings, and your loan program can all differ from those assumptions, which changes your real picture entirely.
Low-down-payment loans, down-payment assistance, and benefits like VA financing are not part of this simple test. Those tools can put a home within reach in a market the raw ranking would call a stretch.
A cheaper city on paper can cost more in the ways that matter, being far from your job, your family, and your community. The right home is one you can afford and actually want to live in.
You live in the East Valley for a reason
Uprooting your life to chase a lower price on a list is rarely the answer, and it is almost never necessary. The better move is to find out what you can actually afford right here, with the programs and strategies available to you, before you assume the grass is greener in Ohio. Most first-time buyers are closer to a home in their own community than a national headline suggests.
Why is buying here more doable than the list implies?
The national ranking cannot see your specific situation, and that is where the real opportunity lives. A few things work in your favor locally right now.
Sellers are offering more help with costs than they have in years, and there are more starter homes to choose from than a year ago. That combination gives first-time buyers real negotiating room.
You do not necessarily need a large down payment. Low-down and even zero-down options exist for those who qualify, which changes the math the national list assumes.
A national median income is not your income. Your actual buying power depends on your earnings, your debts, and your loan, and the only way to know it is to have it calculated for you.
How do I find out what I can afford here?
Skip the guessing. Turn the national curiosity into a local answer with a few concrete steps.
A pre-approval turns your actual income and debts into a concrete local price range, so you know exactly what you can buy in the East Valley instead of comparing yourself to a national average.
Low-down-payment loans, assistance programs, and VA financing can each change what is within reach. A quick conversation surfaces the options the ranking ignores.
Affordability varies within the East Valley too. A good agent can point you to the pockets where your budget stretches, so you can stay in the area you love and still buy.
If you are a veteran, the national affordability list undersells your position badly, because it does not account for your VA benefit. With no down payment required and no monthly mortgage insurance, the income you need to comfortably buy in the East Valley can be lower than these general figures suggest. Do not let a list that ignores your benefit talk you out of buying where you want to live.
To keep the lanes clear: which neighborhoods fit you and what homes are worth are your real estate agent’s expertise. My job is the number underneath it, turning your real income and debts into an honest local price range, matching you to the programs you qualify for, and getting you approved so you can buy where you actually want to live. Start that with our East Valley mortgage team.
The bottom line
National affordability rankings are interesting, but they are a blunt tool, and the absence of your metro from a list like this says far less than it seems. It measures one income against one budget rule and ignores the down-payment programs, VA benefits, and personal numbers that actually decide whether you can buy. Before you ever consider uprooting your life for a cheaper city, find out what you can truly afford right here. Get your real number with our East Valley mortgage team, and you may find your first home is closer than a headline made it look, right across the East Valley.
Do I have to move to a cheaper city to afford a first home?
Usually not. National affordability lists measure one median income against local prices under fixed assumptions, and they ignore low-down-payment loans, assistance programs, and benefits like VA financing. Your real buying power depends on your own income, debts, and loan, so it is worth checking locally before assuming you must relocate.
Which cities have the most affordable starter homes right now?
A recent Redfin analysis named 22 metros where all starter homes are affordable for a median local income, including Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Houston, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. The income needed ranged widely by metro, showing how local affordability really is.
Why isn't Phoenix or the East Valley on the affordable-cities list?
This particular list flags metros where essentially every starter home fits a median local income under a standard budget. Not appearing on it does not mean buying here is out of reach; it means this narrow test, which ignores down-payment programs and personal circumstances, did not include the area.
How do I find out what I can actually afford in my area?
Get pre-approved. A national median income is not your income; a pre-approval turns your actual earnings and debts into a concrete local price range. Pre-approval does not guarantee final approval, but it shows you where you truly stand.
Can down-payment help or a VA loan change what I can afford?
Yes. Low-down-payment loans, down-payment assistance, and VA financing, which requires no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance for eligible buyers, can all put a home within reach that a simple affordability ranking would not reflect.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a commitment to lend or financial advice. Affordability and income figures cited reflect a third-party Redfin analysis for the period noted, are based on national assumptions including down payment and housing-cost ratios that may differ from your situation, and vary by market, income, and property; statements attributed to Aaron Bae and LA Mortgage and Real Estate reflect views expressed in a published article and are paraphrased for illustration, and that individual and company are not affiliated with and do not endorse CrossCountry Mortgage or the author. Loan, down-payment assistance, and program eligibility depend on individual circumstances and program guidelines, which vary and are subject to change; not all borrowers will qualify, and getting pre-approved does not guarantee loan approval. VA loan eligibility and benefits depend on individual circumstances. CrossCountry Mortgage is a private lender and is not acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Equal Housing Opportunity.
