Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com Rank Topeka Top US Housing Market

Less expensive cities with strong local economies climbed The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.comEmerging Housing Markets Index in the first quarter, another sign that many home buyers are giving priority to affordability.

Fast-rising housing prices have pushed buyers from expensive coastal cities into cheaper housing markets in recent years. Expanded remote-work opportunities and a search for different lifestyles during the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the trend.

In Topeka, Kan., which ranked 16th in the first-quarter rankings, affordable prices also are attracting out-of-state buyers and investors, said real-estate broker Abbey Wostal. The median sales price in the Topeka metro area was $155,000 in the first quarter, down 1.6% from the same period in 2021, according to the Sunflower Association of Realtors.

“Topeka, we’ve always said, we’re kind of a great little secret,” she said. “It may not be where you choose to vacation, but it is a great place to live, because it’s affordable.”

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