Francesca Levy, 02.19.10, 04:50 PM EST
Low foreclosures, rising home prices and affordability make these parts of the country good bets for home buyers.
In Depth: America's Best Housing Markets

Families in the market for a house are shopping at the right time: Nationally, homes are near the most affordable they've been in 18 years. In the fourth quarter of 2009 housing was 62.4% more affordable than the same time a year earlier, according to the Housing Opportunity Index, published quarterly by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.

The best place to buy right now: Pittsburgh. For a housing market to be attractive it should have appreciating prices that show homeowners are making wise investments; an affordability rating that gives middle-class families with good credit entry into the market; and a relatively low number of foreclosures, which keeps prices stable and indicates there isn't an excess of inventory.

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To learn why Forbes believes Pittsburgh is the right choice, click here.

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