Home price growth has slowed to a crawl and the supply of housing is beginning to gain traction. Is this the moment when the market finally opens up for potential homebuyers?

While it's probably too early to call a change in the cycle, there are markets where the conditions are turning better for bidders, on both a relative basis (think media values) and absolute basis (sellers have begun to cut prices in meaningful numbers).

"The shortage of starter homes across the country is finally starting to ease, and that's good news for would-be first-time buyers who have been saving up to make the leap into homeownership," Skylar Olsen, Zillow's director of economic research, said in a press release. "Unfortunately, prices of homes in the lower third of the market have risen so much in recent years that for many households' budgets they no longer qualify as affordable. But markets like Tampa and Las Vegas still provide plenty of bargains."

Last year saw the most first-time buyers purchase a home since the housing crisis. Overall, 43% of first-time buyers went to the suburbs in 2018, while 40% chose an urban setting and 17% bought in a rural locale. The suburbs also retained the largest share of consumers as 52% of repeat buyers decided to stay there.

From the desert of the Southwest to all across Florida, here's a look at the 12 housing markets deemed best for first-time home purchasers.

Zillow based its list of best markets for first-time homebuyers on a combination of four metrics: Low median home value, forecasted home value appreciation, high inventory-to-household ratio, and a high share of listings with a price cut.
Zillow suburbs

No. 12 Philadelphia, Pa.

Median home value: $232,700
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 6.4%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.3%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 16.2%
NMN032019-philadelphia.jpg
Sunset over downtown Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tamara Nicol/luminouslens - stock.adobe.com

No. 11 Houston, Texas

Median home value: $205,500
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 3.2%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.6%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 18.7%
NMN032019-houston.jpg
Ryan Conine - stock.adobe.com

No. 10 Charlotte, N.C.

Median home value: $206,200
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 6.1%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.2%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 16.4%
NMN032019-charlotte.jpg
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kevin - stock.adobe.com

No. 9 Nashville, Tenn.

Median home value: $253,500
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 6.4%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.6%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 14.9%
NMN032019-nashville-opry.jpg
unknown/Dave Newman - stock.adobe.com

No. 8 Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Median home value: $242,600
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 8.1%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.3%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 18.7%
NMN032019-ft-worth-071718.jpg
Cityscape of Fort Worth Texas in early evening light
Leena Robinson/leekris - stock.adobe.com

No. 7 Detroit, Mich.

Median home value: $160,000
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 7%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.1%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 16.5%
NMN032019-detroit.jpg
Typical American city skyline (Detroit, Michigan)
icholakov - Fotolia

No. 6 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Median home value: $283,800
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 5%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 2.8%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 18.6%
NMN032019-miami.jpg
yacht ship on the sea in Miami ,Florida , USA.
Worachat Sodsri/worachatsodsri - Fotolia

No. 5 Orlando, Fla.

Median home value: $237,100
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 5.9%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.6%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 21.3%
NMN032019-orlando.jpeg
Orlando, Florida towards Lake Eola.
SeanPavonePhoto - stock.adobe.com

No. 4 Atlanta, Ga.

Median home value: $217,500
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 7.8%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.6%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 15.9%
NMN032019-atlanta.jpg
Houses and cars against the midtown. Atlanta, GA. USA.
novikat - stock.adobe.com

No 3. Phoenix, Ariz.

Median home value: $264,900
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 8.5%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.4%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 20.9%
NMN032019-phoenix.jpg
Phoenix, Arizona.
Tomasz Zajda - stock.adobe.com

No. 2 Las Vegas, Nev.

Median home value: $277,900
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 8%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.6%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 23.9%
NMN032019-las-vegas.jpg
Las Vegas Nevada residences and businesses a landscape from above.
Photographer: Gino Rigucci/RG - stock.adobe.com

No. 1 Tampa, Fla.

Median home value: $213,600
2020 home value appreciation forecast: 6.2%
Available inventory-to-household ratio: 1.7%
Percentage of listings with price cut: 24.8%
NMN032019-tampa.jpg
Tampa city skyline, panoramic view on modern skyscrapers in business downtown, Florida, USA
http://www.pixachi.com/PixAchi - stock.adobe.com
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