(954) 661-5301 wjcbarnes@gmail.com WJS Florida Realty
Leads Dashboard
Home
  • Search
  • Preconstruction Luxury Highrises
  • Featured Cities
  • Buying
    • Buying Info
    • Search Homes
  • Selling
  • About
    • Learn More
    • Meet the Expert
    • Our Testimonials
  • Articles
  • Resources
    • Foreign Buyers
    • Choose Miami
    • Market Insight Videos
  • Invest in the US
  • Schedule A Meeting
  • Contact
Leads Dashboard
  • William Barnes - Phone/WhatsApp(954) 661-5301
    wjcbarnes@gmail.com
    Copy Email
  • Office
    555 West 5th Street
    Los Angeles, California
    (424) 325-0643
    support@closehack.com

Explore

  • Property Search
  • Communities
  • Buying
  • Selling

About

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Testimonials
  • Home
William Barnes | Broker - Footer Logo
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Accessibility
  • Fair Housing
©2026 WJS Florida Realty. All rights reserved.
Website built by CloseHack
Miami Association of REALTORS®

MIAMI ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Marjo Realty Co. may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS.

My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS

IDX information is provided exclusively for personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Some IDX listings have been excluded from this website. Listing Information presented by local MLS brokerage: William Barnes | Broker

Florida Dominates for First-Time Buyers

Published July 20, 2024 | Posted by William Barnes

A new WalletHub survey found Florida cities took six of the top 10 spots as the best for first-time homebuyers across metrics like crime rates and real estate taxes.


ORLANDO, Fla. – First-time homebuyers look no further. Florida has everything you need.


Anew WalletHub surveyfound Florida is home to six of the top 10 best cities in the nation for first-time homebuyers. The survey looked at affordability, real estate and quality of life markers in 300 U.S. cities using 22 key metrics, including home prices, taxes and crime rates.


Another three Florida cities landed in the top 20. Overall, 26 Florida cities made it into the top 300.


“Buying a home for the first time is a very stressful and difficult process, especially when housing prices are through the roof and interest rates have risen sharply in the past few years. The best cities for first-time home buyers not only are affordable both in terms of buying a house and living there afterward, but they also have a lot of housing choices as well as low crime rates and good schools,” Cassandra Happe, Wallethub analyst, said.

The top 10 in affordability, real estate and quality of life markers across 300 cities:

Sunrise, Boca Raton and Clearwater landed at 11th, 15th and 16th, respectively.


Miami Gardens was noted as having the best median home-price appreciation in the nation, and Port St. Lucie for one of the lowest rates of property crimes.


“People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage. In addition, where a home is located is just as important as what features it has. If the neighborhood is unpleasant, it can sour the experience of a great home,” WalletHub said.


Source: WalletHub

  1. Palm Bay
  2. Cape Coral
  3. Port St. Lucie
  4. Tampa
  5. Orlando
  6. Surprise, AZ 
  7. Lakeland
  8. Boise, ID       
  9. Gilbert, AZ    
  10. Henderson, NV



Sunrise, Boca Raton and Clearwater landed at 11th, 15th and 16th, respectively.

​

Miami Gardens was noted as having the best median home-price appreciation in the nation, and Port St. Lucie for one of the lowest rates of property crimes.

“People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage. In addition, where a home is located is just as important as what features it has. If the neighborhood is unpleasant, it can sour the experience of a great home,” WalletHub said.

Source: WalletHub

© 2024 Florida Realtors®

Related Articles

Keep reading other bits of knowledge from our team.

Read Article
Why South Florida's Office Market Continues to Outperform the Rest of the Country

South Florida continues to demonstrate why it remains one of the nation's most desirable places to live, work, and invest.While many major U.S. cities are still struggling with elevated office vacancy rates, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties are telling a very different story. Businesses continue t...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 14, 2026
Read Article
Could the Next Tech Boom Spark Another Wave of Homebuyers Moving to Florida?

The technology industry has always played a major role in shaping real estate markets. As several high-profile technology companies prepare for major public offerings, many industry observers believe another significant migration of wealth could reshape housing demand in some of the country's fastes...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 14, 2026
Read Article
Miami Q1 Market Report: Wealth Migration, Luxury Growth & South Florida Trends

South Florida continues to attract major wealth, luxury development, and corporate relocation activity, and this latest market update breaks down what’s happening across Miami and West Palm Beach.This video covers:Luxury market trends and pricing shiftsWealth migration into FloridaGrowth in Miami an...

  • By William Barnes
  • May 8, 2026
Read Article
Florida’s Wealth Migration Boom: Why High-Net-Worth Buyers Keep Choosing the Sunshine State

Florida continues to dominate the national real estate conversation, and the numbers tell a powerful story. Over the past few years, the state has experienced a massive influx of wealth from other parts of the country, particularly from high-tax, high-cost “blue states” like New York, California, an...

  • By William Barnes
  • Mar 11, 2026
Read Article
Florida Economy Set to Outperform Nation in 2026

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2026 outlook points to stabilizing home prices and improving sales as the housing market adjusts after rapid growth.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s economy is expected to continue outperforming the nation in 2026, even as growth moderates from the rapid pace of recent...

  • By William Barnes
  • Feb 25, 2026
Read Article
2025 International Homebuyer Transactions
  • By William Barnes
  • Feb 10, 2026
Read Article
Florida Tops List of States for New Business Formation

Florida Leads the Nation in New Business Creation in 2026A recent national analysis has identified Florida as the top state in the country for launching a new business in 2026. The ranking reflects a combination of affordable operating costs, a growing and mobile workforce, and a business environmen...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jan 28, 2026
Read Article
Housing Market Set for 2026 Comeback

NAR economists predict home sales will climb in 2026 as mortgage rates ease, buyer demand strengthens and price growth continues despite uneven market conditions.HOUSTON — Real estate professionals may finally see a long-awaited surge in activity in 2026, with home sales poised for a potential doubl...

  • By William Barnes
  • Nov 25, 2025
Read Article
Miami Real Estate Market Rebounds: Q3 2025 Snapshot

South Florida’s real estate market is heating back up. In ISG World’s Q3 2025 Miami Report, Craig Studnicky highlights stronger sales, faster closings, and renewed buyer confidence as mortgage rates drop and inventory stabilizes. With demand surging and major global events coming to Miami in 2026, t...

  • By William Barnes
  • Nov 5, 2025
Read Article
9 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for Families, According to Real Estate Experts

​Southern cities, Midwest suburbs, and charming towns are among the best places to live for families in the U.S.​As you start to have children, your priorities change. In your younger years, you may have wanted a bustling city with great brunch spots, happy hour deals, and bars that stayed open unti...

  • By William Barnes
  • Sep 26, 2025
Read Article
Florida Shines for Retirement Living

Four Florida cities – Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale – rank among the best places in the nation to retire in 2025, according to a new Wallethub study.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An annual survey measuring confidence about retirement reveals two-thirds of workers and nearly one-quarter of retirees...

  • By William Barnes
  • Sep 16, 2025
Read Article
Miami Real Estate Q2 2025: Market Trends & Investment Insights

Get ready for an expert-led deep dive into Miami’s hottest real estate trends. In this video, Miami Reporter Craig Studnicky walks through Q2 market insights, covering price shifts, neighborhood growth, and the biggest opportunities for buyers and sellers today. What You'll LearnQ2 2025 Miami market...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 25, 2025
Read Article
BREAKING NEWS: Tax Reform Bill Clears House With Key Real Estate Provisions

BREAKING NEWS: Tax Reform Bill Clears House With Key Real Estate ProvisionsThe House of Representatives early this morning passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that delivers significant wins for the real estate sector, reinforcing tax provisions long championed by the National Association of REALTO...

  • By William Barnes
  • May 23, 2025
Read Article
Miami Report™ 2025-Q1 Update with Craig Studnicky
  • By William Barnes
  • May 9, 2025
Read Article
The surprising impact Trump’s tariffs will have on luxury real estate

​President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on imported goods from 60 countries plunged the global stock markets into a state of turmoil, sparking recession fears—but the controversial trade policy could up end up being an unexpected boon for the luxury real estate market.Not surprisingly,stock m...

  • By William Barnes
  • Apr 30, 2025
Read Article
Miami set to be one of the hottest buyer’s markets this spring

Miami is one of the top five metros for buyers this spring, based on data from Zillow’s Market Heat Index.​Almost 25% of all homes for sale in the city saw a price cut in February and, since homes spend a median of 60 days on the market, Miami buyers enjoy more choice and flexibility than those in t...

  • By William Barnes
  • Apr 21, 2025
Read Article
Miami Report™ 2024-Q4 Update with Craig Studnicky
  • By William Barnes
  • Jan 25, 2025
Read Article
WRE News: Florida’s Population Surges to 23.3 Million, Driven by Migration Boom

Photography by World Red Eye on December 23rd, 2024 in NewsMiami, FL – December 23, 2024 – Florida added 467,347 residents between 2023 and 2024, reaching an estimated population of 23,372,215, according to new Census Bureau data.This 2% growth rate was the second highest in the nation, behind only...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jan 23, 2025
Read Article
Miami ranked the most competitive rental market in the nation

Miami ranked the most competitive rental market in the nation​by Patrick ReganMiami is the country’s most competitive rental market, according to ananalysis by RentCafe.RentCafe.com analyzed the 139 largest markets in the country based on five criteria, then gave each city a competitiveness score to...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jan 8, 2025
Read Article
Florida Housing Markets Poised for 2025 Growth

​Florida housing markets are set for 2025 growth with affordable homes, new construction and their appeal to younger, diverse buyers, Realtor.com said.SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nine metro areas in Florida rank among the top 100 U.S., housing markets that are primed and ready for growth in 2025, standing...

  • By William Barnes
  • Dec 12, 2024
Read Article
Case-Shiller: Home prices hit all-time high again in August, but rate of increase slowed

Home prices hit yet another all-time high in August, but the pace of the rise slowed from previous readings,S&P Dow Jones Indices said. Specifically, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index rose 4.25% year over year but slid 0.13% month over month. In July, the rate of increase...

  • By William Barnes
  • Oct 31, 2024
Read Article
Florida – Where Americans Really Want to Live

Americans value sunshine, safety and affordability, a new study shows. Of course, Florida tops the list of most desirable states to live. NEW YORK – Many Americans seem to have contradictory and confused feelings about the places they call home. Although 73% of Americans say they like where they liv...

  • By William Barnes
  • Aug 31, 2024
Read Article
South Florida takes top spots in COMPASS 2024 Mid-Year Ultra-Luxury Report

South Florida was heavily represented in the top 10 ranks of COMPASS‘ 2024 Mid-Year Ultra-Luxury Report, which tracks home sales of $10 million and up.By the number of sales, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties took third and fourth places with 79 and 74 transactions in the first half of the year, re...

  • By William Barnes
  • Aug 23, 2024
Read Article
Miami Top Rankings
  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 26, 2024
Read Article
Miami Report
  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 25, 2024
Read Article
Florida Dominates for First-Time Buyers

A new WalletHub survey found Florida cities took six of the top 10 spots as the best for first-time homebuyers across metrics like crime rates and real estate taxes.ORLANDO, Fla. – First-time homebuyers look no further. Florida has everything you need.Anew WalletHub surveyfound Florida is home to si...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 20, 2024
Read Article
Colombia accounts for most web searches of South Florida real estate

​House hunters from Colombia made the most international web searches for South Florida real estate in May, closely followed by Germany and Canada, according to a new report by the MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI).Potential buyers from 149 countries searched MiamiRealtors.com, which has three...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 9, 2024
Read Article
State Sees Across-the-Board Population Gains

​The Lakeland-Winter Haven area had the largest numeric gain in the population ages 0-14. Other parts of Florida have the fastest-growing working-age population in the nation.WASHINGTON – The population age 65 and over increased in all but one (Eagle Pass, TX) of the nation’s 387 metro areas, while...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jul 4, 2024
Read Article
Case-Shiller: Home-price index hits all-time high in March; Miami sees 8.2% gain

Home prices hit yet another all-time high in March, S&P Dow Jones Indices said.Specifically, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index rose 6.5% year over year and 1.3% month over month. “This month’s report boasts another all-time high,” Brian Luke, head of commodities, real and...

  • By William Barnes
  • Jun 4, 2024
Read Article
FHFA: Home Prices Rise in Three Florida Metros

​The Federal Housing Finance Agency said U.S. home prices rose 6.6% between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024. Home prices continue to grow at a steady pace.WASHINGTON – Three Florida metro areas saw a more than 10% increase in home prices between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, according...

  • By William Barnes
  • May 30, 2024
Read Article
Miami ranks No. 1 for recent college grads

​by John Yellig​It’s the beginning of graduation season, and new grads would be hard pressed to find a better city than Miami to begin their careers, according to a new study.Online English-learning platform Preply analyzed the 75 largest U.S. cities based on employment opportunities, cultural and s...

  • By William Barnes
  • Apr 30, 2024
Read Article
Florida Home Values Skyrocket

The average Florida home value doubled in six years. Tampa and Miami tied for having the third-fastest price doubling among large U.S. cities.MIAMI – The national median home price is twice what it was ten years ago. Molded by a storm of inflation, tight supply and surging demand, the average home p...

  • By William Barnes
  • Apr 18, 2024
View All Articles

Request Info

Have a question about this article or want to learn more?

Thanks!

We have your information, we will reach out as soon as possible to meet your needs!