New Trulia report focuses on areas in or near big cities with the best value for new buyers For first-time homebuyers in the United States, finding an affordable starter home has become more and more of a challenge. Just a scant 21 percent of home inventory nationally can be considered a starter home, according to recent Trulia data, and the number of such homes has decreased in 75 of the country?s 100 biggest metro areas (dropping a startling 80 percent in some popular markets such as Austin).
But in certain neighborhoods, there are still value buys that offer significant savings on the median sale price, according to a new Trulia report, America?s Best Value Neighborhoods. Instead of compiling a list of the cheapest neighborhoods, the residential real estate site factored in housing cost and amenity level with school ranking, crime stats, and commute times to figure out where buyers received the ?best bang for the buck? when searching for an affordable home. Here are five neighborhoods in expensive metro areas that offer the best combination of price and livability, according to the Trulia analysis. An interactive map also offers value neighborhoods for other major metro areas.

Trulia

New York City: Yonkers, New York
Trulia found the Ludlow neighborhood in Yonkers, in Westchester County just north of New York, offered exceptional value for the region, with low crime, good schools and amenities, and a median list price of $463,401 (the metr...