Guest Columnist

 

Diana Polk

Huntington Beach Is 2026’s 4th Worst Midsize City for First-Time Home Buyers

 

With just 21% of home purchases last year made by first-time buyers, compared to the historical average of 40%, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst Cities for First-Time Home Buyers in 2026, to identify where people stand to save the most money and enjoy the best living conditions.

WalletHub took the pulse of real estate in 300 cities of varying sizes using 22 key metrics. The data set ranges from housing affordability to the real-estate tax rate to the crime rate.

Buying a First Home in Huntington Beach (1=Best; 150=Avg.):

  • 249th – Housing Affordability
  • 41st – Real-Estate Tax Rate
  • 257th – Cost of Living
  • 278th – Rent-to-Price Ratio
  • 235th – Median Home-Price Appreciation
  • 68th – Foreclosure Rate
  • 111th – Property-Crime Rate
  • 196th – Total Home-Energy Cost 
Huntington Beach ranks No. 270 overall and No. 99 among midsize cities.
 
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-first-time-home-buyers/5564