Safe Havens in Real Estate
By Louis Jones, Kiplinger.com
Nov 21st, 2008
With foreclosures skyrocketing and home prices plummeting, real estate has had a tough year. But in certain pockets across the country the damage has been minimal -- if nonexistent.
We found six cities with slow, steady growth, using data from Fiserv Lending Solutions, a home-price research company. These cities' local economies have kept unemployment and foreclosure rates below average. Plus, their affordability index -- a measure of home prices versus family income -- is low. More from Kiplinger.com
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For comparison, we also pinpoint an average market and the worst market in the country.
Safe Havens
Lancaster, Penn.
Population: 498,465
Median home price: $206,000
12-month change in home value: +1.6%
Affordability index: 3/10
Homes sold this year: 1,166
Home value vs. national average: Same
Top employer: R.R. Donnelly & Sons publishing company
Known as an Amish cultural hub, the city is also home to a diverse group of industries, including printing and food processing. This helps keep the local market stable and unemployment low, as losses in one sector aren't devastating to the overall economy.
Locals say Lancaster is a conservative lending market, which limits foreclosures.
Clarksville, Tenn.
Population: 265,062
Median home price: $130,000
12-month change in home value: +1.4%
Affordability index: 3/10
Homes sold this year: 2,081
Home value vs. national average: -37%
Top employer: Trane Corporation
Clarksville offers an affordable alternative to nearby Nashville but is close enough that residents can enjoy the larger city's attractions.
The housing market is kept active by Clarksville's proximity to Fort Campbell. Traditionally a manufacturing town, the city also offers a robust retail economy, driven in part by Austin Peay State University.
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