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Michigan Has the Third Most Overpriced City in the U.S.

It’s a wild ride for the housing market right now, and prices keep going up. Now that interest rates are also going up, chances are the market will finally cool…

Michigan houses

Michigan houses

It's a wild ride for the housing market right now, and prices keep going up. Now that interest rates are also going up, chances are the market will finally cool off a little bit, but only time will tell if it makes a significant difference or not. I'm always watching the market, because I would like to buy my first home someday soon- or at least someday.

Experts say that most U.S. real estate is overvalued right now, which isn't a big surprise. What is a bit more surprising, however, is that one Michigan city is actually the third most overpriced city in the U.S. when it comes to the housing market. It's certainly not a city I expected to see on the list.

The bad news, according to Moody's Analytics, is that home values in 97% of U.S. cities are overvalued. The good news is that real estate in some of the most overpriced areas could fall by 10% over the next few years, they predict. That said, the nation's most overvalued cities are pretty surprising. The No. 1 most overpriced market is currently Boise, Idaho, and the second-most overpriced market is Sherman-Denison, Texas, near the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

So, where is Michigan? According to Moody's the third most overpriced city in the entire country is Muskegon, Michigan, where housing is 59% overvalued. What makes an area overpriced, according to Moody's, is if property costs in the area are "well above" the normal relationship between home prices and incomes, rents and construction fees. So, that's why areas where workers have higher incomes don't show up on Moody's tally as much as other areas. In general, Moody's recommends waiting a year or two if you're looking to buy a house, if you have the time. Buyers have already been waiting, though, so adding another one or two years might seem like an eternity, but it could be worth the wait.

It's a wild time to buy a house. The prices seem to just keep going up and up, with no end to this housing bubble in sight. I would love to buy my first hour, but like many, I'm being forced to wait until the housing market drops a bit, and it's anybody's guess when that will happen.

If you are buying a house right now, you should make sure it's in a good place to live, since you're likely paying a pretty penny for it. Thankfully, the folks at Niche.com have done the homework to determine the best places to buy a house in Michigan. They recently released a list of the best places to live in the state, factoring in both cities, suburbs, towns and city neighborhoods.

"The Best Places to Buy a House ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the housing and community of an area," they explain the in the study. "This grade takes into account key factors of a location’s housing market, including home values, taxes, crime rates, and quality of local schools, in an attempt to measure the quality and stability of an area’s real estate market." They also look at aspects such as home value to income ratio, public schools grades, monthly housing costs, the cost of living, the higher education rate, the median home value and much more. Statistics are mainly obtained from the U.S. Census and represent the most recent data available, they state.

So, what places are the best to reside in Michigan? Read on for the top 50 list via Niche.com, and best of luck with your home buying experience.

50 Best Places to Buy a House in Michigan

This list is via Niche.com.

50. Oneida

49. Royal Oak

48. Williamston

http://new.williamston-mi.us/

47. Blendon Township

46. Tecumseh Township

http://www.tecumsehtownship.org/

45. Sheridan Charter Township

44. Jamestown Charter Township

http://twp.jamestown.mi.us/

43. Ferrysburg

http://www.ferrysburg.org/

42. Lima

41. Frankenmuth

40. Courtland Township

39. Bloomfield Charter Township

38. Ingersoll

37. Grand Haven Charter Township

36. Baldwin Township

35. Haslett

34. Jenison

33. DeWitt

32. Quinnesec

31. Freeland

30. Resort Township

29. Midland

28. Grosse Point Woods

27. Oakland Charter Township

26. Webster Township

25. Troy

24. Fulton Heights

http://fultonheights.org/

23. Brighton Township

22. Texas Charter Township

21. Portage Charter Township

20. Crockery Township

19. Norway Township

18. Zeeland Charter Township

17. Northville

16. Cannon Township

15. Beverly Hills

14. Forest Hills

13. West Ishpeming

12. Tilden Township

11. Huntington Woods

10. Hudsonville

9. Ottawa Hills

8. Grosse Pointe Farms

7. Okemos

6. Lodi Township

5. Royalton Township

4. East Grand Rapids

3. Berkley

2. Eastgate

1. Larkin Charter Township

http://www.larkintownship.org/

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.