Realtors Predict These 10 Cities Will Become Unaffordable by 2028

To prepare yourself financially for the future, it's prudent to understand what the cost of living will be in your area down the road. Since housing expenses make up a large portion of most budgets, keeping an eye on real estate trends can give us valuable insight.

Our real estate experts have analyzed the latest data and trends, and they predict that the following cities are poised to become unaffordable by 2028.

Editor's note: Unless otherwise stated, all median home prices come from Zillow.

Denver is an amazing place to live, according to broker Emily Duke at LUX Real Estate ERA Powered. But with its growing popularity and a median home price of $536,000, it's only getting more expensive.

"Denver homes cost approximately 6.4 times the local median income," she says. "While appreciation has leveled from the double-digit surge seen in years past, prices remain high while other pressures continue compounding affordability challenges."

Insurance is one of those pressures. "Colorado's average homeowners insurance premium is $3,017 per year, roughly 38% above the national average," Duke adds.

The median home price in New Orleans is reasonable at $239,000. However, Stephen Keighery, Director of the New Orleans Real Estate Investors Association (NOREIA), sees other costs becoming an issue.

"New Orleans could get a lot tougher for buyers by 2028, not because prices are exploding, but because insurance and property taxes just keep climbing faster than wages," he says. "In some parts of Louisiana, insurance costs have tripled since 2021."

Fortunately, nearby Lafayette, Biloxi, and Slidell will remain more affordable, per Keighery.

Carry costs point to San Antonio becoming unaffordable by 2028, shares broker Levi Rodgers, founder of VA Loan Network.

"Hail and wind premiums are up 25 to 40 percent, there are double-digit tax reassessments on non-homesteads, and a cash-buyer share is nearing one in three home sales in north-side zip codes," Rodgers says.

Home prices are climbing into the low to mid $300,000 range, though in some areas it's up to $800,000. "Lot shortages and labor costs add five figures to new builds; rent-to-price ratios below five percent tell me prices still have room," Rodgers adds.

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Home prices and property taxes are headed to the stratosphere in Seattle, explains broker Ledeana Strand, Team Lead at Homes by Strand.

"Seattle's median price is currently $963,000 and continues to climb, as do the property taxes along with it," she says. "I don't see property values going down anytime soon."

Fortunately, homes in Kitsap County are a viable alternative. "We're close enough for people to commute to the bigger cities, but we're still 'affordable' as far as housing prices," Strand adds.

Real estate may be more affordable right now in Miami (and South Florida in general) in the wake of the Surfside collapse, where the median home price is $578,000. But broker Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO at Echo Fine Properties, says costs are poised to soar.

"Prices are overly depressed because of unknown costs and assessments," he says. "Once all those issues are crystal clear, it will let buyers purchase with ease. More lenders will also lend. Insurance costs will go down with certainty." And that will drive housing costs way up.

Alexandria has always carried a premium price tag, and current trends indicate it's only getting harder to afford, shares Realtor Darren Robertson, Founder at Northern Virginia Home Pro.

"The median sale price of homes in zip codes like 22306 has risen by over 15% YOY, reaching a value of over $708,000 in September 2025," he says. "Alexandria's proximity to D.C., combined with the recent influx of ex-federal employees, is contributing to the city gaining new residents twice as fast as new housing units are becoming available."

San Jose often tops lists of places with high housing costs, thanks to its location in the heart of Silicon Valley. Real estate agent Brent Jennings, founder at Real Estate Experts ERA Powered, says we can expect more of the same in the future.

"The median home price in San Jose is approaching $1.7 million and continues to climb, driven by low supply, investor activity, and surging insurance and tax costs," he says. "Without meaningful inventory growth, many buyers will be priced out by 2028."

More affordable options can be found in Cambrian or Blossom Valley, explains Jennings.

Like San Jose, San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, notes Realtor Fred Loguidice, founder of Sell My House Fast Salt Lake City.

"The median home sale value is already high with San Francisco at $1.4 million," he says. "With an influx of highly paid tech workers and other professionals, the demand for housing is continuously rising, which is driving up prices."

Low home inventory and fierce competition will also increase costs into 2028.

Loguidice expects New York City, where the median home price is over $805,000, to become even more unaffordable by 2028 for the same reasons as San Francisco.

"Another factor that concerns me is the high cash-share of purchases, which suggests that investors and foreign buyers are driving up prices and making it difficult for local buyers to compete," he shares.

Tax reassessments and insurance costs will likely also play a part in increasing the price of homeownership in the Big Apple, per Loguidice.

According to Robertson, the median home price in McLean is $2,050,000 and likely to keep climbing.

"While McLean has always been one of the most expensive areas in Northern Virginia, an almost 11% increase in home prices YOY suggests it will become one of, if not the most unaffordable locations in the D.C. metro area by 2028," he says. "We're already beginning to see this come to fruition, with the number of homes sold dropping by around 2% this year."

Whether it's to live in, generate retirement income, or give to a loved one, buying property has historically been a sound investment. However, that may prove to be difficult in these markets, as they're poised to become unaffordable by 2028.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that property in nearby cities and suburbs may have a lower price tag, allowing you to secure a foothold in that area. So if you're priced out of a zip code, don't give up on your search elsewhere.