Where to buy: Top 5 housing markets on the move
A study by the Demand Institute (a nonprofit think tank operated by The Conference Board and Nielsen) has identified these five metropolitan areas, expected to see huge growth -- more than 30 percent -- in the next four years.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Milwaukee is Wisconsin's most populous city. The "Brew City" sits along the shores of Lake Michigan, about an hour and half north of Chicago.
According to the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, home sales were up 10 percent in the Milwaukee metro area in 2013, and home prices were up more than $14,000. This trend is expected to continue.
Tampa, Fla.
The home of the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa is the the second largest metro area in the state of Florida. It is located on Florida's west coast, along the Gulf of Mexico.
According to statistics from the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, this market has seen significant growth in the past few years. The average sale price of a home in January 2014 was $184,000, compared to $135,000 in 2011. Meanwhile, inventory of homes on the market dropped 40 percent in the same time period.
Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis, nicknamed "The River City," sits along the Mississippi River. It is Tennessee's largest city. Home to Graceland, it is a mecca to Elvis fans worldwide.
Year to year, comparing sales in January of 2013 to sales in January of 2014, the Memphis Area Association of Realtors reports median home prices are up more than 18 percent.
St. Louis, Mo.
Famous for its arch, St. Louis is home to the Cardinals and Rams. The Greater St. Louis metro area straddles two states -- Missouri and Illinois -- on both sides of the Mississippi River.
This market has seen healthy growth since 2010. The average sale price of a home was up about $13,000 in 2013, and stats from the St Louis Association of Realtors show inventory dropped by more than 20 percent in that time period.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, Jacksonville's metro area hugs Georgia's southern border. The city itself is Florida's largest city by population.
Home sales in this market were up 10 percent between January 2013 and January 2014, according to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. The average number of days homes sat on the market dropped almost 15 percent in the same time period, to 86 days.