See which Alabama metro areas were named affordable US cities with the most home inventory

Brown And White Concrete House Under Blue Sky During Daytime
Is your city on the list? (Unsplash)

While the housing market is cooling off across the country, finding an affordable home is still a major challenge with skyrocketing rates and low inventory. However, according to Stessa, several Alabama metro areas including Birmingham-Hoover and Huntsville ranked among affordable cities with the most home inventory. Read on to find out more.

Soaring prices, low supply

According to Stessa, there are several encouraging signs for home buyers in recent months:

  • Mortgage applications are down (fewer buyers are competing in the market)
  • Homes are spending more time on the market
  • Sellers are more inclined to lower home prices
  • Buyers are walking away from deals more often

However, inflation has raised the cost of homes, as high demand and low supply have driven prices to record levels.

What do you do if you’re looking for an affordable home AND an area with lots of inventory? Alabama has several metros, large and small, that have the best of both worlds.

Affordable large metros in Alabama

Downtown Birmingham
The Magic City. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Drum roll please… in the study, Birmingham-Hoover ranked #6 overall in the country for most home inventory at an affordable cost of living. Let’s dive into the data:

  • Active listings per 10K existing homes: 48.9
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -7.4%
  • Median sale price: $277,144
  • Percentage of listings with a price cut: 14.7%
  • Average days on market: 35

Not bad, considering the Birmingham-Hoover metro beat out major metros such as Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina; San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia and more.

Affordable midsized metros in Alabama

Downtown Huntsville
Downtown Huntsville. (Nathan Watson / The Bama Buzz)

When it comes to midsized metros in Alabama, Huntsville also cracked the top 10, as the #9 most affordable city with the most home listings.

  • Active listings per 10K existing homes: 64.7
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -7.9%
  • Median sale price: $325,322
  • Percentage of listings with a price cut: 11.6%
  • Average days on market: 28

Catch a glimpse at 7 beautiful Huntsville-area homes on the market.

Affordable small metros in Alabama

Decatur
Historic Old Town in Decatur. (Nathan Watson / The Bama Buzz)

Not one, but three small Alabama metros made the top 50 on Stessa’s list.

#24: Anniston-Oxford

  • Active listings per 10K existing homes: 46.2
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -11.6%
  • Median sale price: $163,826
  • Percentage of listings with a price cut: 17.8%
  • Average days on market: 44.6

#27: Gadsden

  • Active listings per 10K existing homes: 45
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -14.5%
  • Median sale price: $172,045
  • Percentage of listings with a price cut: 17.7%
  • Average days on market: 48.7

#38: Decatur

  • Active listings per 10K existing homes: 38.2
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -14.1%
  • Median sale price: $231,267
  • Percentage of listings with a price cut: 18.9%
  • Average days on market: 30.5

View the full report from Stessa.

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Gabby Gervais
Gabby Gervais
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