Homebuyers in Northwest Indiana are familiar with the competitive nature of the housing market in the region. One town in particular, Highland, has emerged as one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. According to realtor.com, Highland ranked sixth nationwide among the hottest real estate markets in June. It had an average of 2.9 times as many online viewers as the national average, a median 19 days on the market, and a median listing price of $289,000.
Highland was identified as the hottest market in the greater Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area, which includes Northwest Indiana and southeast Wisconsin. In fact, the metropolitan area as a whole was the sixth hottest in the country, with Chicago trailing behind only Columbus, Hartford, New York City, Boston, and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metros.
Other top zip codes nationwide included Gahanna, Ohio; Southington, Connecticut; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Andover, Massachusetts; and Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In Indiana, Highland led the state rankings, with Lafayette ranking 17th nationwide. No other zip codes in Indiana made the list.
The concentration of buyer demand in these hot zip codes is a result of affordable Midwest markets and well-located Northeast markets that offer convenience and value. Despite their size advantage, homes in these zip codes tend to have prices at or below the national median. Interest rates in the 6% to 7% range have left many potential homebuyers hesitant to give up their lower interest rates. However, despite this, home prices in the top zip codes across the country have still climbed 7.2%, surpassing the 4.2% average home price growth nationwide.
Realtor.com suggests that this year’s list of hot zip codes indicates that buyers may have adjusted to the higher-rate environment and are moving forward with their home search. Additionally, affordable markets have gained popularity among buyers looking to achieve homeownership despite unaffordability in other areas. On the other hand, pricier markets in the suburbs of large cities may be attracting higher-earning buyers who prioritize quality of life offerings over affordability.
Sources: Realtor.com