Top 5 markets to buy a home in early spring as experts warn 'housing rush' is near & the cheapest state may surprise you

CHOOSING a time to buy or sell your home can be tricky, but experts can help point you toward trends.

One trend in housing is that it tends to be seasonal — but some markets pick up sooner than others.

As part of our Let’s Get Real series, The U.S. Sun spoke with Realtor.com about their latest housing market analysis. 

Some of the markets that saw early spikes in inventory may not be what you’d expect, according to Evan Wyloge, a Realtor.com data specialist.

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“Spring is a relatively good time to be looking,” especially if you’re concerned with inventory, he said.

High inventory can mean lower prices for buyers, but a "housing rush" of demand may come later in the year.

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Using several years of inventory data, Realtor.com was able to find a few key markets where seasonal trends may give an extra advantage to those who shop for homes early.

EARLY RISERS

Typically, few people nationwide buy homes in the winter, as the cold weather and holiday festivities make it extra inconvenient to move.

That means there’s often a jump in moves in the spring and summer months.

Inventory, the number of houses on the market, tends to rise in anticipation of those moves. 

Nationwide, inventory rose in April and May, peaking in October, according to Realtor.com’s data from 2019, 2021, and 2023.

In some markets, however, the rise happened more sharply and earlier.

That means shopping for homes in March and April can be beneficial in these markets, as inventory is high even if the weather is still cold.

“Some of these markets that we identified are markets that you might expect to see have a strong spring,” Wyloge said.

Those markets, in the South and California, made up some of the list.

Meanwhile, places like New York City and Allentown, Pennsylvania took the lower spots.

1. TALLAHASSEE

Tallahassee, Florida, had the earliest bloom, with inventory rising as early as February.

The panhandle city is the state capital and was the cheapest on the list, with an average home price of $313,525.

While it is a landlocked city, it still has natural beauty and is not too far from gorgeous beaches.

The closed beach folks visit is called the Mashes Sands' Bald Point State Park which is only about 36 miles from the city.

Meanwhile, those who don't mind a beautiful 90-minute drive can head to Saint George, Seaside, and Panama City.

A huge tourist destination is the St. Marks Lighthouse which is inside the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge near Tallahassee.

2. SAN JOSÉ

This California city has the list's highest price tag: $1.28 million as the median home value.

There, prices also started rising in February, peaking in June, months ahead of the national average.

Most metropolitan cities tend to have a higher crime rate, and this city is no exception.

The area's violent crime rate was lower than the national rate back in 2020, and its rate of property crime was higher than the national rate, according to a US News World Report.

Despite its high crime rates now, parts of the city are still extremely desirable thanks to the tech boom and its unique offerings.

In fact, San José has one of only three Japantowns in the US with tourists coming from all over to see things the like Cherry Blossom Festival.

3. LOS ANGELES

Home to Hollywood, Los Angeles has a relatively stable inventory throughout the year.

While inventory there only rose somewhat earlier than the national average, Realtors ranked the nation's second largest city as a good place to shop early.

Inventory in L.A. peaked lower than the national average during the studied years, meaning there may be less advantage to waiting around for the peak here than in other markets.

The city's median home price is $1.1 million.

4. OXNARD

Oxnard, California was next on the list with a median home price of just over $1 million.

This seaside town west of L.A. continues the Golden State's high price trend.

The city has golden-duned beaches, great food, and historic architecture dating back to the Victorian-era.

There, prices began rising in March and peaked in July.

5. BRIDGEPORT

Connecticut's largest city takes the fifth spot and is located in the eastern, coastal part of the state.

Tucked between Fairfield and Milford, Bridgeport was established in the 18th century and developed as a key transportation point.

It later became a small center of commerce for merchants and only continued to grow from there.

Though weather here is still cold in early spring, that may not keep homebuyers from shopping around.

With a median home price around $800,000, the area's housing inventory started rising in March.

REAL ESTATE NEWS

As housing inventory remains low nationwide, many are turning to nontraditional solutions.

Some are looking at moving into “barndominiums,” barn-style homes made popular by Fixer Upper couple Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Retirees are also impacted by housing shortages.

Realtor.com recently revealed the top nine towns for affordable retirement.

Renovations can be a trick to maximize the value of a property.

If you do decide to move this spring, there are a number of ways to save on moving expenses.