AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Central Texas can claim another top spot in a nationwide ranking, coming in second in a new list of the nation's emerging housing markets.
The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com's Emerging Housing Market Index analyzes a slate of housing market data, economic vitality, and lifestyle metrics to surface emerging housing markets that offer a high quality of life and are expected to see future home price appreciation.
Coeur D’Alene, Idaho tops the list, with the Austin-Round Rock metro area coming in second. Rounding out the top five are Springfield, Ohio; Billings, Montana; and Spokane, Washington.
No other markets in the state of Texas ranked in the top 20 in the index.
"Our emerging housing markets list is another example of how different housing markets are being shaped by people using remote work flexibility to relocate to less urban locales," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. "With outperforming local economies and many small businesses, these areas offer locals a great quality of life that is drawing new residents in."
According to the survey, the top 20 markets have seen strong home price growth - with the top 20 markets increasing by 21% on average in the last year, compared to an average of 14% across all markets.
You can read the full report and methodology here.