Housing

Axios - Looking to buy a home this summer? Check out mid-sized metro areas in the Midwest and Northeast. That's the big takeaway from the new WSJ/Realtor.com Housing Market Ranking, which combines quality of life factors with the likelihood of home value appreciation.

Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, tops the list. After that come a few more cities in New England and a whole bunch in the Midwest.

• "The Midwest's appeal and popularity in today's market is due to the region's housing affordability, low cost of living, and climate resiliency," the report notes.
• As for the Northeast, prices are higher but so is demand — particularly for more affordable cities like Manchester within striking distance of bigger ones, like Boston.

"Metros in Texas and Florida continue to dominate the bottom of the list as growing inventory thins out buyer demand and keeps homes on the market longer," the report notes. Another factor is "high risks of property damage due to climate events."

The housing market overall is looking very slow this summer. With rates and prices stubbornly high, potential buyers are staying on the sidelines. See the list ... Read the report.