Support Us Button Widget

Lakeland ranks No. 7 best city for first-time home buyers

Find out what put Lakeland at the top of a list of US cities when it came to buying your first home.

An exterior of a historic home in Lakeland, viewed from the street. The house is painted dark blue with a pink front door, white porch railing, and white trim. Large green trees stand in front of the home.

Consider Lakeland for your first home.

Photo by @dietitian.anie

Lakeland’s housing market has come out on top once again, ranking No. 7 on WalletHub’s list of top US cities for first-time home buyers. When it came to small cities of fewer than 150,000 residents, it ranked even higher, coming in as the No. 3 best city.

Cities in this study received up to 100 points based on metrics across three key factors:

  • Affordability — Ratio of median house prices to median annual income, cost of living, and cost per square foot
  • Real estate market — Rent-to-price ratio, median days on market, and median home price appreciation
  • Quality of life — Weather, school system ratings, and crime rate

Lakeland earned a score of 63.21, just over five points behind the top-ranked city, Palm Bay, FL, which received 68.91 points. When it came to rankings for the key factors, Lakeland’s highest ranking was for quality of life, where it took the No. 9 spot.

The front of a tan single-family home with a garage and front yard viewed from the street.

Calling all house hunters — maybe these spots will fit the bill for your first home.

If you’re looking to put down roots and buy your first home in Swan City — or know someone who’s house hunting — check out these listings. Each one is priced below the city’s median listing price of $350,000 + located in some of Lakeland’s safest neighborhoods or near its top-rated schools.

3107 Huntington Ln.

$299,000 | Huntington Hills neighborhood | Listed by David Fridovich, 3D Team, RE/MAX Experts

509 Villa Vista Blvd.
$274,900 | Southwest Harden neighborhood | Listed by Debbie Grogan + Ginger Quirk, Coldwell Banker Realty

523 Bartow Rd.
$335,000 | Historic Biltmore neighborhood | Listed by David Small, Keller Williams Realty Winter Haven

More from LALtoday
There are both benefits and strict guidelines for homes in Lakeland’s seven historic districts. Does your home make the cut?
Check out our guide to the many meaningful murals you can find around our city.
Lakeland’s iconic bird mascot gets an annual visitor in the form of Canadian pelicans.
This is where you’ll find our readers grabbing a bite and catching a game.
Got a hot new fling? Hoping to spice things up with your longtime partner? We’re here to help plan your next date in Swan City.
Polk is full of special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditional motels and hotels — check out our favorites in and around Lakeland, Florida.
Strawberries, citrus, and sunflowers await at these U-pick spots where you’ll harvest your own bounty.
Whether you’re seeking a new romance or a fresh friendship, we’re asking readers where they go to meet people in Lakeland.
This home in the Beacon Hill Historic District has a story that spans over a century — in fact, it’s almost as old as the City of Lakeland itself.
Grab your boo or your bestie to celebrate love, friendship, and everything in between at these events around Swan City.