Watauga, Texas, voted the country's hottest housing market for 2017

For the second year in a row, a North Texas city is being honored as the country's hottest housing market.

It's not Plano, Frisco or even Highland Park.

The Tarrant County city of Watauga is getting the honor again from online home sales site Realtor.com.

Located north of Fort Worth, Watauga takes up only about four square miles and has a population of more than 25,000.

"Watauga is an inner suburb of Fort Worth that has a young population, a strong economy and schools that have been rated among the best in the state," Realtor.com said in its annual report. "Residents also benefit from being part of a vibrant, multicultural metropolis, with great restaurants and cultural offerings."

Watauga heads a hot housing market list that includes ZIP codes in Michigan, Massachusetts, Colorado and California.

Realtor.com rates the markets based on home affordability, the job market and the number of millennial residents and buyers.

"The houses don't stay on the market long here because they are at a good price point for the area," said Jacquelyn Reyff, Watauga's director of planning and economic development. "We are located in the Birdville and Keller Independent School Districts which are terrific."

Realtor.com says that houses up for sale in Watauga receive five times more buyer views online than homes in the rest of the country and sell in an average of 18 days.

Watagua's median home price this year is $160,441 — up 12.4 percent over 2016.

Realtor.com looked at real estate listings in 32,000 zip codes nationwide for its annual report.

"Millennials are the largest generation in U.S. history and they are flexing their muscle when it comes to the housing market," said Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com.

"Increasingly, the hottest housing markets are the ones that appeal to millennial preferences, and right now the standouts are relatively affordable suburbs with local 'it' factors such as hiking trails, great restaurants and nightlife."

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Housing markets Home prices Texas
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