Is Georgia Still Affordable in 2025 if You’re Buying a Home?
Short answer: Georgia is still more affordable than many coastal and high-cost states, but it’s no longer a “cheap” market. Prices have mostly leveled off, inventory is improving, and homes are sitting longer, but 6–7% mortgage rates and rising monthly costs mean you have to be more strategic than ever.
Let’s break down what’s really happening with prices, inventory, and whether that $500K+ suburban 4-bedroom is still sustainable.
Where Georgia Home Prices Stand Right Now
Statewide, Georgia has moved out of the rapid-appreciation phase and into a more balanced, “slow-down but not crash” environment.
Recent data shows the median home price in Georgia hovering in the high $300Ks (around $369,000 in October 2025), actually down slightly year over year.
Zillow’s broader index puts the average Georgia home value around the low $300Ks, also off a couple of percent from last year.
Another statewide analysis pegs the median price closer to $382,000 with roughly 1% annual growth, highlighting that price movement depends heavily on the specific metro or county you’re looking at.
So is Georgia “cheap”? Not really. But compared to many major coastal markets where median prices push well into the $600Ks and beyond, Georgia still offers relatively strong value, especially once you move outside the priciest intown and luxury suburbs.
Are $500K+ Suburban 4-Bedroom Homes the New Normal?
If you’ve been shopping in popular suburban areas, especially around Metro Atlanta and fast-growing suburbs, seeing $500K+ price tags for a 4-bedroom is now fairly common.
For example:
In upscale, high-demand suburbs like Alpharetta, the median sale price is around $875K, up over 20% year over year.
That doesn’t mean every suburb or every 4-bedroom is pushing $500K+, but it does show how much prices have stretched in the most sought-after areas over the last few years.
Is that sustainable? Probably not at the same pace you saw during the boom. Here’s what’s changing:
Homes that are overpriced for their condition or location are sitting longer and seeing price reductions.
Buyers are more payment-sensitive at 6–7% rates, so there’s less tolerance for “wishful” pricing.
Move-up and relocation buyers from higher-cost states still see $500K as a relative bargain, which helps support pricing in top-tier suburbs, but they’re also becoming choosier.
In other words, those $500K+ 4-bedrooms in solid suburban locations are likely to hold value better than they grow in the near term. The days of 15–20% annual price gains are behind you (which is actually a good thing for long-term stability).
Inventory and Days on Market: Why the Market Feels Cooler
One of the biggest shifts you’re feeling isn’t just price, it's pace.
Recent Georgia data shows:
Inventory is up more than 15% year over year, giving buyers more homes to choose from than they’ve had in several years.
Homes in Georgia are taking around two months to sell on average, with days on market increasing compared to last year.
In Atlanta specifically, prices have dipped a bit (roughly a 3–4% decrease year over year), and the average days on market have stretched into the 80+ day range in recent months.
Practically, that means:
You’re more likely to see price reductions and seller concessions on homes that aren’t perfectly priced or perfectly presented.
As a buyer, you often have more time to think instead of writing an offer in the driveway after a 15-minute showing.
As a seller, you can’t just “name your price” anymore the market is rewarding realistic pricing and good prep, not just the fact that you listed.
The market is still solid, but it has shifted from “frenzy” to “negotiation.”
How 6–7% Mortgage Rates Shape Affordability
The biggest affordability story isn’t just home prices, it’s monthly payments.
Here’s what’s been happening nationally:
For much of 2024 and early 2025, 30-year mortgage rates hovered between about 6.8% and 7%, after peaking even higher in 2023.
In late 2025, rates have eased back into the low-6% range—around the lowest levels in more than two years—according to recent Freddie Mac data.
Even with that slight improvement, a 6–7% rate means:
Your monthly payment on a $450K–$550K home can feel dramatically different than it would have at 3% even if the price hasn’t moved much.
Many buyers are stretching less; payment comfort is trumping “buy as much as I’m approved for.”
Then layer in:
Higher property taxes in some counties after reassessments.
Rising insurance costs, especially on newer construction or homes with costlier materials.
HOA fees have climbed to keep up with maintenance, reserves, and inflation.
So when you ask, “Is Georgia still affordable?” what you’re really asking is:
“Can I get the home and lifestyle I want at a monthly payment that fits my budget even with today’s rates and fees?”
For many buyers, the answer is still yes, but it may require adjusting expectations on location, size, or condition.
What About All the People Moving to Georgia? Is That Keeping Prices High?
Yes, migration is a big piece of the puzzle.
Moving company and migration studies consistently rank Georgia among the top inbound states, alongside the Carolinas and Tennessee. Allied Van Lines
Metro Atlanta’s population has grown by roughly 4–5% since 2020, with most of that growth expected to come from people moving into the region over the coming decades. Axios
That steady in-migration, often from higher-cost markets, does a few things:
Supports demand even as local buyers pull back a bit.
Helps stabilize prices in established suburbs and key job-centered corridors.
Makes large price declines less likely unless something bigger shifts in the broader economy.
So no, the “boom” isn’t exactly over it’s just evolving into a slower, more local-driven, fundamentals-based market instead of a pure feeding frenzy.
How to Decide If Georgia Is Affordable for You.
Instead of asking, “Is Georgia affordable?” ask:
“Is my version of Georgia affordable?”
Here’s how to stress-test that:
Start with the full monthly number, not just the price.
Include principal and interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and realistic utilities. That’s your true affordability picture.Play out different scenarios.
Inner-suburb 3BR with shorter drive and higher price
Outer-suburb 4BR with a bit more commute and potentially lower price per square foot
Newer construction with higher HOA vs. older home with more maintenance
Think in 5–7 year chunks.
If you expect to stay put for at least five years, you’re buying through more than one rate cycle. You can always explore refinancing later if rates move meaningfully lower; what you can’t do is go back and buy a home at last year’s prices.Look at days on market as an opportunity indicator.
Homes that have been sitting for 30+ days may offer:Room for negotiation on price
Seller-paid closing costs or rate buydowns
Flexibility on timing or repairs
Stay flexible on “must-haves.”
Maybe you keep the 4 bedrooms, but compromise slightly on lot size or finishes. Or maybe you prioritize a newer home with lower maintenance over an extra 200 square feet.
Tips If You’re Buying or Selling in North Metro Atlanta.
If You’re Buying
Get pre-approved first. Know exactly what you can comfortably spend at today’s rates before falling in love with homes on Zillow or the MLS.
Target homes that have been on the market a bit. That’s where you’re more likely to negotiate price or closing costs.
Consider interest-rate buydowns. Instead of waiting for rates to drop, you may be able to structure a seller-paid buydown so your first few years of payments are lower.
Lean on local insight. Micro-markets behave differently one neighborhood might be softening while another is still attracting multiple offers.
If You’re Selling
Price with the current market, not 2022. Buyers have more options and higher payments; they’re not chasing aspirational pricing.
Prep matters more now. Clean, decluttered, and well-presented homes still stand out and sell faster, even in a cooler market.
Expect negotiation. Credits for closing costs, minor repairs, or rate buydowns are increasingly common. Build that into your strategy upfront.
So… Is Georgia Still Affordable?
Georgia is no longer a hidden bargain, but it’s still one of the more attainable places to own a home compared to many high-cost states, especially if you’re flexible on location and property type.
Prices have stabilized or softened slightly in many areas.
Inventory is up, and days on market are longer, giving you more leverage and more options.
But higher rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees mean affordability is now all about strategy, not just sticker price.
If you approach the market with clear numbers, realistic expectations, and good local guidance, Georgia can absolutely still work for you.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Move
Let’s talk about your unique situation. We’re Greg and Jacquee Hart with Hart Realty Partners, your trusted real estate advisors helping clients buy, sell, and invest across North Metro Atlanta. Whether you prefer a call, text, DM, or email, reach out in the way that works best for you, and let’s create a strategy tailored to your goals.
Attribution (Data Sources Used)
Georgia and U.S. housing market data: FMLS, GAMLS, Redfin state and Atlanta market reports (prices, sales, days on market).
Georgia home value trends: Zillow Home Value Index.
Statewide prices and inventory growth: Colibri Real Estate Georgia market overview.
Mortgage rate trends: Bankrate historical mortgage rates, Freddie Mac PMMS, and recent Georgia market commentary.
Migration and population trends: Allied Magnet States report and Axios coverage of metro Atlanta growth.
