The answer is basically everywhere. Jed Kolko reports on the findings of a new study examining the ratio of home prices to annualized rent in 100 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United State.
"It is now cheaper to buy a home than to rent in 98 of the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas," according to Trulia's newly released Winter 2012 Rent vs Buy Index, which "tracks whether it is more affordable to rent or to buy a home by looking at asking prices on Trulia.com for rentals and for-sale homes with similar attributes in similar neighborhoods."
The index shows that lowest price-to-rent ratios can be found in Detroit, Oklahoma City, and Dayton, Ohio. Of the 100 metropolitan areas, only Honolulu and San Francisco were found to have ratios outside the "buying is cheaper" range.
"What factors contribute to higher price-to-rent ratios in some metros?" writes Kolko. "Surprise! It's not the effect of the housing bubble. Metros where prices fell more during the bust don't have either lower or higher price-to-rent ratios, on average, than other metros that weathered the bust better...Long-term fundamentals, not short-term changes in prices, determine which metros have high price-to-rent ratios."
FULL STORY: Where to Buy and Where to Rent Now
One U.S. State Boasts 33% Fewer Carbon Emissions Per Capita Than Any Other
California, the largest state by population in the United States, is responsible for 33% fewer carbon emissions per capita than any other state, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
U.S. Cities Where Homeowners Stay Put the Longest
A study identifies cities where people stay in their homes longer, and they tend to be at either end of the income and home values spectrum.
Boomtowns No Longer Attract Waves of New Workers
The latest Upshot by Emily Badger looks at why American cities with the greatest economic opportunity no longer attract the population increases of yore
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)