The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring

The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring

For a lot of first-time buyers, buying a home has felt out of reach. But this spring, some markets are becoming more workable, and that opens the door for buyers in Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties too.


Where First-Time Buyers Are Finding More Opportunity


Zillow’s 2026 list of the best markets for first-time home buyers is led by Jacksonville, followed by Birmingham, San Antonio, Atlanta, and Houston. Zillow says these markets are benefiting from better affordability, more inventory, and less buyer competition, which can give first-time buyers a clearer path to ownership.


See chart below.

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