GA isn’t great for first time home buyers right now. Here’s why
If you’re trying to buy your first home in Georgia, it’s not looking great. A new study from Premier Timber Frame Business ranks all 50 states on first-time buyer affordability.
The study placed Georgia 37th for first-time home buyers, below the national midpoint and well behind neighboring states.
The methodology
The ranking comes from states’ scores on six factors:
- Median home price
- Average income
- Mortgage costs
- Home insurance
- Property taxes
- Utility bills
Georgia ranking explained
The numbers tell a pretty clear story about why Georgia struggled in the rankings. These numbers contributed to the 37th ranking and placing it in the lower half nationally for housing burden.
- Median home price: $375,300
- Average annual income: $57,129
- Average annual mortgage cost: $212,892
- Annual property taxes: $3,262
- Home insurance: $2,009/year
- Annual utility bills: $39,138
- Overall score: 59.01 out of 100
Top and bottom states for first time buyers
Top 10 states for buyers
- Wyoming
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- Indiana
- Minnesota
- Ohio
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- South Dakota
Bottom 10 states for buyers
- Hawaii
- California
- New York
- Florida
- Washington
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Massachusetts
- Utah
- New Jersey
Tips for first time buyers
U.S. house prices rose 1.6% from January 2025 to January 2026, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, so the market can be hostile to first-timers.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a few bits of advice for people thinking about buying in this market.
- Get pre-approved early so you know your budget before you shop
- Take a homebuyer education class or talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor
- Use calculators to estimate monthly costs, not just the purchase price
- Prepare your money situation before house hunting
- Budget for more than the mortgage, including property taxes, insurance, closing costs and repairs
- Ask about first-time buyer programs, especially down payment and closing cost assistance
Are you house hunting? How has your experience been? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 6:00 AM.