Realtors Predict These 12 Cities Will Become Unaffordable by 2030

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions we'll ever make, and timing could make all the difference. However, in cities across the country, rising demand, decreasing inventory, and other factors are pushing prices higher and higher.

Knowing where the market is headed could help you plan smarter, avoid wasting money, and make decisions that protect your financial health. To that end, these cities are hot now, but by 2030, our real estate experts say they may be completely unaffordable.

Mesa used to be where you'd buy if Scottsdale were out of reach for you, but that's changing fast, shares Realtor John Gluch, Founder of Glutch Group in Arizona.

"Between the massive redevelopment around the Gateway Airport and the sheer volume of high-end manufacturing coming in, we're seeing a fundamental shift in the city's DNA," he says. "By 2030, I expect Mesa to be a primary destination for luxury-service seekers."

Keep your eye on this Florida Keys hotspot as it's poised for growth, according to Realtor Vivian Lehman, Broker/Owner at You Have Realty in Florida.

"Key Largo's median value has increased on average nearly 10% year after year, as compared to most Florida cities [that] didn't post huge gains in 2025 because the Florida market softened overall," she says. "This is likely due to limited inventory and strong beach/tourist demand."

Denver is on pace to become unaffordable by 2030 due to intense demand, according to Realtor Brett Johnson, owner of New Era Home Buyers in Colorado.

"Entry-level homes in affordable areas such as West Colfax and Globeville tend to get multiple offers at higher and higher prices," he says. "Buyers with modest incomes are being forced to look further and further out of the city."

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In the perennially hot Southern California market, Imperial Beach is an attainable standout. But odds are that won't last, per Realtor Deborah Vance, founder of Radiant Realty CA.

"With no room to expand, steady military and commuter demand, and the everyday appeal of coastal living, affordability here never lasts forever," she says. "Once rates level out and buyer confidence returns, limited shoreline supply will make today's prices look like a window of opportunity."

Close to Downtown Chicago, Skokie is walkable and appealing to commuters seeking community, explains real estate agent Kati Spaniak with eXp Realty in Illinois.

"Skokie is filled with many starter homes that are in the price range that are affordable to those buyers," she says. "However, as more people see its proximity to downtown and the North Shore, the prices will continue to rise."

Greenville is on track to increase its already rising property values, as noted by real estate agent Ben Mizes, President of Clever Real Estate.

"The expanding job market and the buyers it has attracted from more expensive markets, plus the pace of growth (especially in the suburbs), further suggest a surging price point," he says. "It will likely exceed and outpace local income levels."

Real estate strategist Tyler Vaughan, Founder of Tyler Sells Real Estate in Arizona, notes that the Flagstaff market is only going to get less affordable by 2030.

"Inventory remains tight with low vacancy rates, keeping competition strong even as new listings rise modestly," he says. "Limited availability coupled with steady demand can continue to push local prices beyond what typical local incomes can comfortably support."

Compared to Portland and Seattle, Spokane is still within reach. However, that's poised to change, shares real estate expert Nathan Richardson, Founder of Cash For Home.

"It's bleeding value the same way those cities did: out-of-staters with pocket liquidity buying in cash, and tightening inventory, plus developers only building luxury products," he says. "Climate migration is pushing demand into inland Northwest cities, pushing Spokane toward a tipping point by 2030."

Mizes notes that while Boise is still considered affordable relative to major coastal metros, it's getting more expensive.

"A number of factors, such as years of strong inbound migration, tech remote-worker demand, and limited new inventory, are causing a sharp increase in prices," he says. "If demand continues to outpace supply, by 2030, the income of households will likely not keep up with the prices of homes."

When Spaniak was renting her first home out of college, it was in this once-affordable Chicago village.

"In the past 10 years, prices have increased nearly 47%," she says. "It has a very cute downtown that the young buyers are drawn to."

Spaniak adds that Arlington Park is going to be the new home of the Chicago Bears. "It's on the precipice of becoming one of the biggest tourist attractions outside of downtown Chicago," she continues.

Buckeye is one of the last places in the greater Phoenix area that's still relatively affordable, according to Glutch.

"But you can already see the 'path of progress' moving West," he says. "As the roads and retail catch up to all those new rooftops, those $400k price tags are going to vanish."

If you wait until 2030, though? "You'll be paying the same premium prices we're seeing in the more established East Valley suburbs today," Glutch adds.

Mizes points out that Raleigh-Durham is one of the most affordable cities in the Southeast with a thriving tech industry, growing jobs, and good schools. But that could easily change.

"If there is not enough new housing supply, they will lose a big part of the population because they will not be able to access the housing with middle-income salaries," he says.

As real estate markets get hotter and hotter, folks who wait too long may find themselves priced out of property.

By staying realistic about long-term growth trends, you could keep more cash in your wallet as housing markets evolve. That may take your real estate search outside of the U.S. as expat markets become the new affordable option.