Finance
The 25 best cities for buyers on a budget: Zillow
Pittsburgh, Jackson, Syracuse and Toledo all rank among the most affordable cities. (iStock)
The housing market has seen better days. Although housing affordability is trending upward, according to the National Association of Realtors, mortgage rates and homeowners insurance are still up across the country, adding to the cost of homeownership.
The current state of the market is leaving some buyers searching for affordable areas. Zillow recently released an analysis of 25 metro areas which showed the cost of housing is less than 30% of an average household budget.
It’s often recommended that homebuyers pay a third of their income or less towards housing costs. This is considered affordable and leaves money for other necessities and savings.
Here are the 25 areas Zillow’s study deems most affordable.
If you think you’re ready to shop around for a home loan, consider using Credible to help you easily compare interest rates from multiple lenders at once.
HOMEOWNERS’ MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS DROPPED TO LOWEST RATE IN YEARS
1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s second-largest city is home to just over 300,000 people and has some of the lowest housing costs in the country. The average home value is $202,454, according to the Zillow study. This creates a typical mortgage payment of about $1,053.
2. Jackson, Mississippi
For warm weather and a city steeped in history, Jackson, Mississippi is the largest city in the state with housing costs averaging under $200,000. The Zillow report found the typical home value is $185,338, equaling a mortgage payment of just $964, on average.
3. Syracuse, New York
For those who want to live in New York but don’t want to pay high NYC prices, Syracuse is a major city with plenty of opportunities. Homebuyers pay $212,404, on average for their homes, which means a monthly mortgage payment of about $1,105.
4. Toledo, Ohio
Toledo sits on the tip of Lake Erie and is home to the Toledo Museum of Art, making it a good selling point for artsy buyers. Plus, the average monthly mortgage payment is just $920. The typical home price is $176,787, on average.
5. Wichita, Kansas
For a small, but affordable city, Wichita stands out. It’s the largest city in Kansas, but homebuyers pay $201,780 for the average home. This equates to $1,050 per month in a monthly mortgage payment.
6. Akron, Ohio
Another city in Ohio makes Zillow’s top ten affordable places to live. Akron is a small city with a population of just over 188,000. The average buyer pays $207,190 for a home and $1,078 in a monthly mortgage payment.
7. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis offers the famous Gateway Arch, a world-class zoo and the Mississippi River. While it’s not the most affordable city on this list, most homebuyers can still get a house for under $300,000. Zillow reports the average home value is $242,214, which means a monthly payment of about $1,260.
8. Augusta, Georgia
For nice weather and an up-and-coming food scene, Augusta, Georgia has more affordable housing options than Atlanta. The typical home price sits at $224,839, on average. Buyers typically pay $1,170 for their monthly mortgage payment.
9. Rochester, New York
Sitting on Lake Ontario, Rochester is one of the more affordable cities in New York. Homes average $233,753 and monthly mortgage payments average $1,216.
10. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit has been trying to make a comeback for years after its population decreased. It has a vibrant downtown scene and a lot of inventory. Buyers pay $240,536 for an average home, which equates to a mortgage payment of about $1,251.
11. Birmingham, Alabama
For those looking for constant sun, tons of parks and some good Southern food, Birmingham has all of these, paired with relatively low mortgage payments. Home values average $247,702, with mortgage payments averaging $1,289, according to Zillow.
If you’re looking to purchase a home in today’s market, you can explore your mortgage options by visiting Credible to compare rates and lenders and get a mortgage preapproval letter in minutes.
THIS IS THE #1 CITY FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS, AND OTHER HOT US HOUSING MARKETS
12. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, is home to Louisiana State and a strong job market, as well as low home values, particularly compared to the much more expensive New Orleans. The average home costs $228,418, with a monthly mortgage payment of $1,188.
13. Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis has a little bit of everything. Whether buyers are sports fans looking to attend Pacers games or the Indy 500 or want a variety of job opportunities, they’ll find what they’re looking for. Many homebuyers can get by without paying over $1,500 for their mortgage. The average home price is just over $270,000.
14. Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital city of Arkansas, set on the banks of the Arkansas River. Prospective homebuyers will pay $212,713, on average, for a typical home. This is equal to $1,107 for a monthly payment.
15. Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines has a vibrant art and live music scene thanks to its bustling downtown and the Des Moines Art Center. Since it’s the capital of Iowa, home prices are slightly higher than some alternative cities, but the typical home value is still $270,827, with an average monthly payment of about $1,400.
16. Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina with a population of 139,698. It’s home to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, which is a botanical garden and zoo hybrid. Homebuyers should expect to pay about $243,161, on average. This means a mortgage payment of $1,265.
17. Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is the perfect city for sports enthusiasts, artists, entrepreneurs and anyone looking for a thriving downtown. Plus, housing is nice and affordable, with homebuyers paying about $215,913 for a home and $1,123 for a monthly mortgage payment.
18. Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York is a popular vacation destination thanks to its location near Niagara Falls. It also boasts an affordable housing market, with the average monthly mortgage payment being $1,274. The average home price is $244,825.
19. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the only city on Zillow’s list where home prices average slightly over $300,000. Even so, this is less than the national average of $417,700. The average homebuyer will pay $1,610 in a monthly mortgage payment and $309,531 for a home.
20. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis has always been a cool city with a huge blues, soul and rock music scene. Big names like Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King all recorded albums at the well-known Sun Studio. It’s also home to many affordable homes. The average buyer will pay $234,635 for a home, securing a mortgage of $1,221, on average.
21. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The capital city of Oklahoma has a lot to do, from musical festivals to country-themed bars. It also has an affordable housing market, with the average home going for $229,529. This equals an average mortgage payment of $1,194.
22. Louisville, Kentucky
Home to the Kentucky Derby, homebuyers can get a mortgage for less than $1,300 in Louisville. The average price for a home sits at $247,856.
23. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg offers a small city vibe with just over 50,000 people. Even with a small housing market, the city boasts affordable options. Home prices average $274,217 and mortgage payments average $1,427.
24. Cincinnati, Ohio
There’s always something to do in Cincinnati. With the famous Cincinnati Zoo and multiple museums, it’s a good family city. Homebuyers pay an average of $271,766 for a home and secure a mortgage payment of $1,414, on average.
25. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is an affordable city overall. Mortgage payments typically come in under $1,200 per month and the average homebuyer will pay $227,703, on average, for a new home.
You can explore your mortgage options in minutes by visiting Credible to compare rates and lenders.
HOMEBUYERS CONSIDERING PURCHASING TINY HOMES AND FIXER-UPPERS TO COMBAT HIGH HOME PRICES
Have a finance-related question, but don’t know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.
The uranium trade’s shelf life may last years.
According to Sprott Asset Management CEO John Ciampaglia, a “real shift” upward is underway due to increasing global energy demand — particularly as major tech companies look to power artificial intelligence data centers.
“We’ve been talking about uranium and nuclear energy non-stop for four years at Sprott, and we’ve been incredibly bullish on the segment,” he told CNBC’s “ETF Edge” this week.
Ciampaglia’s firm runs the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (SRUUF), which Morningstar ranks as the world’s largest physical uranium fund. It’s up 22% over the past two months.
The firm is also behind the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM), which is up almost 38% over the past two months. The Sprott website lists Cameco and NAC Kazatomprom JSC as the top two holdings in the fund as of June 12.
“It’s [uranium] a reliable form of energy. It has zero greenhouse gases. It has a very good long-term track record,” Ciampaglia said. “It provides a lot of electricity on a large scale, and that’s right now what the grid is calling for.”
Ciampaglia finds attitudes are changing toward nuclear energy because it offers energy security with a low carbon footprint. Uranium is “incredibly energy-dense” compared to most fossil fuels, he said, which makes it a promising option to ensure energy security.
He cited the 2022 energy crisis in Europe after Russia cut its oil supply to the region and April’s grid failure in Spain and Portugal as cases for more secure energy sources.
“We think this trend is long term and secular and durable,” Ciampaglia said. “With the exception of Germany, I think every country around the world has flipped back to nuclear power, which is a very powerful signal.”
‘You need reliable power’
VanEck CEO Jan van Eck is also heavily involved in the uranium space.
“You need reliable power,” he said. “These data centers can’t go down for a fraction of a second. They need to be running all the time.”
His firm is behind the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR), which is up about 42% over the past two months. According to VanEck’s website as of June 12, its top three holdings are Oklo, Nuscale Power and Constellation Energy.
But he contends there’s a potential downside to the uranium trade: Building new nuclear power plants can take years.
“What’s going to happen in the meantime?” Van Eck said. “Investors are not patient, as we know.”
Van Eck also thinks it’s possible the Trump administration’s positive attitude toward nuclear power could fast track development.
He highlighted nuclear technology company Oklo during the interview. Its shares soared on Wednesday after the company announced it was anticipating a deal with the Air Force to supply nuclear power to a base in Alaska.
The agreement came not long after President Donald Trump in May signed a series of executive orders to rework the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, expedite new reactor construction and expand the domestic uranium industry.
“Trump controls federal land, so that’s not a NIMBY [not in my backyard] kind of potential risk,” said Van Eck. “They’re going to leverage that hard to start to show the safety of these newer, smaller technologies.”
Finance
Amazon is selling an $800 portable power station for $550, and shoppers 'love the mobile design and durability'
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Camping is a fun summer activity. What’s not fun is having no access to electricity. You can’t charge your phone, watch TV, or make your morning cup of coffee. Thankfully, portable power stations allow you to do all that and more. It’s literally like bringing along a giant battery for all of your electronics. Portable power stations are also good to have around your home in case of power outages.
There’s just the problem of price. Portable power stations are notoriously expensive, especially ones that have a larger energy storage capacity. The good news is that we were able to find a solid deal on a 1,056-watt-hour (or 1 kilowatt-hour) power station. This $800 Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station is $550 at Amazon for a limited time. At 31% off, you’re saving $250.
Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station, $550 (was $800) at Amazon
The Anker Solix C1000 features a power output of 1,800 watts, making it strong enough to handle multiple electronics and small appliances at once. It has 11total power ports. You get two USB-A and USB-C ports, a car socket, and six AC outlets. Additionally, it also functions as a night light and has a handle for easy carrying. It weighs about 28 pounds.
Now let’s talk about charging. There are two ways you can charge the Anker Solix C1000. The first way is just by plugging it into a standard AC wall outlet. Or if you have the portable solar panels (sold separately), you simply connect the wires and place the panels in the sun. When plugged into an AC outlet, your power station can be fully charged in about an hour. If you charge up with solar, it’ll likely take around two hours. The digital display on the front of the power station shows you the battery and charging status.
Shoppers have found multiple uses for this portable power station. “We bought it mainly for short power outages and to run our refrigerator, but it will have many other uses for sure,” one shopper said. “Just this past week, I had to do some repairs to our floating dock, and there is no extension cord long enough to reach, so I brought this Anker Solix C1000 and it powered our two saws and drills without any issue at all. It’s very cool and has lots of different outlets. Very impressive unit!”
Others say they get daily use out of it. “I love it. I use it every day. I am traveling and camping everywhere,” one shopper shared. “I use it to power a car mobile refrigerator, a little portable air conditioner, and of course, my iPhone and other electronics, and sometimes an electric stove. It can take on all tasks with no problem. I love the mobile design and durability.”
You don’t need to be ‘roughing it’ the next time you go camping. Consider grabbing the Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station to keep all your devices charged and bring along a few essentials for the kitchen or living room. You’ll feel like you never left home.
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