The Top 10 Hottest Markets

Fascinating news this week out of Realtor.com.

Where are homeowners celebrating? Where are prospective buyers driving up prices? To answer these burning questions, we looked at markets with the largest year-over-year median home price increases.
According to Realtor.com data, Stockton, Calif., topped the list with a whopping 38.9 percent increase in median price in the last 12 months. The other nine metropolitan areas in our top 10 all notched gains above 20 percent, making them the hottest places to buy. Understandably out of the 10 hot hot hottest places to buy, six of them are in California with three being in our own backyard of So Cal. That's right, everyone seems to know to Come Home to So Cal.

10. Denver

• Square feet: 2,794
• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathrooms: 2
• Price: $520,000
• City's median home price: $329,000 (+19.6 percent since 2013)

Spanish style in the Mile High city? Why not? This charming casa is listed at $520,000 and offers details aplenty for any Denverite looking for something different.

9. Los Angeles

• Square feet: 3,200
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 3
• Price: $1.895 million
• City's median home price: $449,999 (+20 percent)

This modern stunner in the Hollywood Hills is listed well above the median at $1.895 million, but you’ll be comforted by the fact that you’re buying into a booming market in Southern California.

8. Bakersfield, Calif.

• Square feet: 2,036
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Price: $183,990
• City's median home price: $179,999 (+20.1 percent)

What can you get on the streets of Bakersfield for the median price? How about a brand-new home?

7. Fresno, Calif.

• Square feet: 1,860
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2
• Price: $369,500
• City's median home price: $229,000 (+21.2 percent)

Fresno saw a healthy jump in home prices in the past year. You’ll jump when you see the price on this newer home in a gated community. Listed for $369,500, the house offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

6. Orange County, Calif.

• Square feet: 7,350
• Bedrooms: 7
• Bathrooms: 5.5
• Price: $3.398 million
• City's median home price: $599,900 (+23.7 percent)

In Orange County, we picked a mansion that would make any "real housewife" happy. This huge home in Anaheim Hills, Calif., is listed at $3.398 million, and for that price tag you will have three acres to play on.

5. Riverside, Calif.

• Square feet: 1,536
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 3
• Price: $294,900
• City's median home price: $292,800 (+24.6 percent)

Coming in right near Riverside’s median price, this cute triplex built in 1920 allows you to play landlord.

4. Detroit

• Square feet: 3,093
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 2 full, 2 half
• Price: $129,000
• City's median home price: $119,900 (+26.3 percent)

Detroit’s problems have been well-documented, but the median home price made a stunning leap in the past year. Even with the big gains, this colonial charmer has been listed for only $129,000.

3. Reno, Nev.

• Square feet: 2,088
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Price: $484,000
• City's median home price: $259,900 (+26.8 percent)

At $484,000, this home at 3850 Royer Court is above Reno's median price. But the contemporary style and brilliant city views might be worth the splurge.

2. Las Vegas

• Square feet: 1,889
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Price: $179,000
• City's median home price: $177,500 (+26.9 percent)

We found a Vegas home right around the median price. What will $179,000 in Sin City get you? You will find a home far from the bright lights of the strip at 5128 Blossom Ave. The two-story home offers about 1,900 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

1. Stockton, Calif.

• Square feet: 5,183
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 6
• Price: $599,000
• City's median home price: $248,600 (+38.9 percent)

This home on 415 W. Park Lane is roughly double the median price of a Stockton home, but its size and pedigree merit a look from anyone hoping to capitalize on the red-hot Central Valley real estate market.