Scranton named top city to buy a big house cheap

Want a big house for an affordable price?

Head to Scranton. According to research from realtor.com®, Scranton is the No. 1 place in the country to score a large (defined as 3,000 square feet or more) home for cheap. Their research showed that, for the first half of 2018, the median price per square foot for large homes is $94.99, and the median list price on homes over 3,000 square feet is $379,900. Nearly 15 percent of homes are 3,000 square feet or more.

“Inventory is a little higher in Scranton than most other areas,” said Greater Scranton Board of Realtors® President Sherrie Miller. “You can get a better deal.”

Miller said for an older, not updated but livable, home, with at least 1,800 square feet and four bedrooms, generally sells for around $85,000, while an older, updated home at the same size sells for just under $130,000, on average.

“It’s very affordable. There are three hospitals, four colleges, including a medical school, and you have all kinds of services, parks, public transportation, small businesses and restaurants. It’s a nice area,” said Miller.

Miller also added there is no shortage of activities in the local community, including a nearby baseball stadium, a concert venue, skiing opportunities, a water park, as well as hiking trails.

“Sales have been pretty steady in the region,” Miller said. “Things don’t sell as quickly in Scranton because of higher inventory. The average number of days on the market for a larger home is about 104 days.”

“First-time buyers want to be able to afford to actually live in the house, and Scranton is definitely affordable,” added Miller. “There are a lot of nice things to do in Scranton. There are many places to take families and social activities.”