“The recovery is starting in housing with these cities and will eventually spread to other communities throughout the nation as the U.S. recovers from the worst collapse in real estate since the Great Depression,” according to HousingPredictor.

Here are the top cities expected to have housing appreciation in 2012 and by how much, according to HousingPredictor’s latest report: 

1. Kansas City, Kan.: 5.8%

2. Topeka, Kan.: 4.7%

3. Charleston, W.V.: 4.5%

4. Oklahoma City, Okla.: 4.3%

5. Minot, N.D.: 4.2%

6. Overland Park, Kan.: 4.2%

7. Wichita, Kan.: 4.1%

8. Huntington, W.V.: 4%

9. Wheeling, W.V.: 3.9%

10. Bismarck, N.D.: 3.6%

11. Casper, Wyo.: 3.5%

12. Lake Charles, La.: 3.4%

13. Rapid City, S.D.: 3.2%

14. El Paso, Texas: 3.2%

15. Cheyenne, Wyo.: 3.2%

Source: “Best Housing Markets 2012,” HousingPredictor (January 2012)

This has been Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag http://www.realtor.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.