Homebuyers priced out of America’s most expensive housing markets are increasingly setting their sights on an unlikely Midwest destination.
Topeka in Kansas has emerged as one of the nation’s most affordable housing markets.
The median listing price of a home was $267,000 in May, more than $160,000 below the national median, according to Realtor.com, however there are a wealth of listings well below that price.
That affordability has helped turn the city of roughly 125,000 residents into a magnet for buyers searching for a cheaper alternative to high-priced metros.
Data analyzed by Realtor.com found that a household earning the area’s median income would spend just 25.3 percent of its earnings on housing, comfortably below the traditional affordability threshold of 30 percent.
Among the bargain offerings are a picture-perfect three-bedroom home complete with a porch swing for $160,000.
For those not afraid of some elbow grease, there is an 1,132 square foot three-bedroom fixer upper on offer for just $35,000.
Buyers from Kansas City, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Los Angeles are increasingly browsing listings in the market, according to cross-market demand data.
Topeka, Kansas, has emerged as one of the nation’s most affordable housing markets, with the typical home listed for $267,000 in May, according to Realtor.com
Buyers from cities including Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and Minneapolis are increasingly looking to Topeka as they search for lower housing costs and a cheaper cost of living
This 1,365 square foot three bed, one-and-a-half bath house is priced at $160,000
This 1,441 square foot three bed, two bath is priced at $165,000
The contrast is especially striking for Californians. While the median listing price in the Los Angeles metro topped $1.1 million in May, homes in Topeka typically sold for about one-quarter of that amount.
Topeka’s affordability is driven by a combination of relatively low home prices, higher purchasing power and a cost of living estimated to be about 15 percent below the national average.
The city also benefits from a diverse employment base.
As the state capital, government remains the area’s largest employer, with nearly 10,000 state workers on the payroll. Major employers also include the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, Stormont Vail Health, Goodyear Tire, Mars Wrigley and Frito-Lay.
The city’s affordability is helped by a labor market anchored by government, healthcare and manufacturing jobs, helping keep incomes relatively strong while housing costs remain comparatively low.
Local leaders have also sought to attract newcomers through initiatives such as Choose Topeka, a relocation incentive program that offers qualifying workers financial assistance of up to $15,000 to move to the city.
Among those to make the leap was project manager Adam Outlaw, a young professional who moved from Boston to take advantage of the dramatically cheaper cost of living.
‘Being able to move around freely and park in a driveway is something I do not take for granted anymore,’ he told Business Insider.
This 1,076 square foot two bed, one bath house is listed for $140,000
The Kansas capital benefits from a diverse employment base anchored by government, healthcare and manufacturing jobs, helping keep housing relatively attainable for local residents
While home prices remain well below the national median, buyers in Topeka still face challenges including limited inventory, higher property taxes and costly homeowners insurance tied to severe weather risks
Adam Outlaw, 25, moved from Boston to take advantage of the dramatically cheaper cost of living
Topeka sits about an hour from Kansas City, giving residents access to major-league sports, entertainment and a larger job market while maintaining a significantly lower cost of living.
But buyers lured by cheap homes may encounter a few hidden costs. Property taxes in Shawnee County are higher than the national average.
Financial website SmartAsset estimates the county’s effective property tax rate at about 1.42 percent, while property tax platform Ownwell places Topeka’s effective rate closer to 1.5 percent.
Weather can also make homeownership more expensive.
Located in the heart of Tornado Alley, Kansas regularly experiences tornadoes, hailstorms and severe weather.
Kansas homeowners pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country because of the state’s elevated storm risk, according to Bankrate.
Meanwhile, NerdWallet estimates annual homeowners insurance costs can exceed $5,000 depending on the property and coverage levels.
Another challenge is inventory. According to Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner, there were roughly 35 percent fewer homes available for sale in Topeka last month than there were before the pandemic, creating more competition among buyers.
The limited supply has helped push Topeka to number 43 on Realtor.com’s Hottest Markets ranking, which measures buyer demand and market pace.
Despite the growing interest, Topeka has largely avoided the speculative buying frenzies that fueled dramatic price increases in many Sun Belt boomtowns during and after the pandemic.
