Most Competitive U.S. Neighborhoods for Homebuyers in 2019 Revealed

According to new research by Redfin, the San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood White Oaks is the most competitive neighborhood of the year for homebuyers. Alger Heights in Grand Rapids, MI and East Arlington in Boston rounded out the top three competitive neighbourhoods. "While neighborhoods in the Bay Area and Boston are still among the most competitive in the country, robust competition for homes in Grand Rapids, Minneapolis and Tacoma neighborhoods signals the desirability of more affordable areas," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "An influx of buyers from more expensive neighborhoods contributes to competition in these affordable neighborhoods, especially because they can make higher offers than local residents when they sell their previous homes." Of the 10 Bay Area neighborhoods among the most competitive in the country, half are in Oakland. Although the median sale price in Oakland is more than double the national median--$720,000 versus $312,000 for the typical home in the U.S. in November--it's still well below that of San Francisco ($1.4 million) and San Jose ($1.1 million).