Friday, July 17, 2026 / by R3homegroup Admin
Valley suburbs ranked among best U.S. cities for first-time homebuyers
Valley suburbs ranked among best U.S. cities for first-time homebuyers
The Arizona housing market was once out of control, but one study suggests it's now enviable to almost anywhere else.
By Clarissa Sosin July 16, 2026
A sold sign is posted in front of a home on in Phoenix.
First-time homebuyer? Looking to live in the Valley? Not a bad situation to be in, according to a new study.
Nine Phoenix-metro area cities ranked in the top 25% in a WalletHub study of the best 300 U.S. cities for first-time homebuyers. Six out of those nine cities ranked in the top 20, with Surprise and Gilbert ranking second and third, respectively.
Apparently, the Phoenix area is a good place to start putting down deeper roots.
The financial site analyzed data from a variety of sources, including the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development and the ATTOM U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. It considered 22 metrics to compare affordability, the real estate market and quality of life in each city.
On this day in history: July 17
Overall, Surprise and Gilbert were the second- and third-best cities for first-time homebuyers. WalletHub found that, per capita, Surprise had a high number of new building permits and a high number of active home listings — 11th overall. It also had the fifth-lowest property crime rate and a high home-value appreciation rate, with home values increasing by a whopping 93% between 2018 and 2024.
Meanwhile, Gilbert had a high number of new building permits and also had a low real estate tax rate — the seventh-lowest. That, combined with a strong job market, good crime rankings and a home value appreciation rate of 85% between 2018 and 2024, makes it a great place for first-time homebuyers to settle.
Overall, Arizona cities ranked incredibly well on WalletHub’s list. Yuma and Peoria ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, while Chandler ranked eighth. Scottsdale (14th) and Mesa (16th) also cracked the top 20, while Phoenix (47th) and Glendale (48th) snuck in the top 50. Tempe (63rd) and Tucson (69th) rounded out the Arizona cities in the ranking.
Perhaps that suggests that Arizona is becoming more hospitable for homebuyers than it has been in recent years. The state, and the Valley in particular, have faced a housing deficit since the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw housing prices skyrocket. More recently, housing prices have softened, while still remaining far higher than they were in 2019.
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WalletHub
Here’s how Valley cities ranked.
63. Tempe
Affordability: 67th
Real estate market: 74th
Quality of life: 218th
48. Glendale
Affordability: 47th
Real estate market: 69th
Quality of life: 194th
47. Phoenix
Affordability: 52nd
Real estate market: 49th
Quality of life: 205th
16. Mesa
Affordability: 25th
Real estate market: 33rd
Quality of life: 162nd
14. Scottsdale
Affordability: 142nd
Real estate market: 11th
Quality of life: 54th
8. Chandler
Affordability: 28th
Real estate market: 48th
Quality of life: 75th
6. Peoria
Affordability: 37th
Real estate market: 16th
Quality of life: 148th
3. Gilbert
Affordability: 22nd
Real estate market: 20th
Quality of life: 92nd
2. Surprise
Affordability: 8th
Real estate market: 2nd
Quality of life: 190th
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