Buffalo On List Of Cities Beating The Housing Bust

Median home sales price: $119,200 Median sales price growth from 2008 to 2011: up 13.1% The Buffalo-Niagara Falls area didn't experience overbuilding or rapid acceleration in home prices, which generally sheltered it from the housing downturn. Foreclosures have also stayed way below the national level. Though Buffalo's economy spent years in decline, our recovery has been one of the strongest in the state, and its job growth outpaced the country, according to a September 2011 Moody's report.

Median home sales price: $103,400 Median sales price growth from 2008 to 2011: up 18% Elmira boasts among the lowest foreclosure rates in the country and also seemed to have missed out on the building frenzy that helped spur the housing bubble. For the most part, according to experts median sales prices for existing homes rose over the past decade.

Median home sales price: $109,900 Median sales price growth from 2008 to 2011: up 17% But it's the jobs market that has helped real estate prices the most in Davenport. Though unemployment isn't low, it's remained below the national average and that appears to have brought in more young, first-time home buyers to the metro area.

Median home sales price: $123,900 Median sales price growth from 2008 to 2011: up 11.4% Unlike the other cities on this list, the foreclosure rate in Indianapolis surpassed national levels. But manufacturing and biotech sectors are hiring and the city's low crime rate and affordable cost of living make it a desirable area for families.