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Housing market conditions are leaving prospective buyers with far less purchasing power than they had even a couple of years ago, but certain cities are bucking the national trend with more favorable circumstances for house hunters.

Nationwide, demand for housing continues to far outpace low levels of inventory, driving prices sky-high and beyond peaks set during the last housing boom. Growth in mortgage rates, which are expected to continue to rise throughout the year, has also added burdens for homebuyers in terms of how much they can afford to buy.

However, a strengthened economy has paved the way for job and income increases, putting more money in the pockets of consumers. And in cities with lower median house values and steadying price growth, purchasing power is not in as much danger as other more costly markets.

A First American analysis of home values that factors in local wages and mortgage interest rates in large cities found a 6.4% price increase nationally in March. But, in some markets, like Washington, D.C., home prices have steadied or even declined, according to First American's Real Home Price Index.

Here's a look at the 12 best cities for housing market purchasing power. The data, from First American's RHPI, measures home price changes, taking local wages and mortgage rates into account "to better reflect consumers' purchasing power and capture the true cost of housing."

The March 2018 data is ranked by smallest year-over-year changes in RHPI for cities where the current value is less than 100 (an RHPI reading of 100 is equal to housing conditions in January 2000).
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jiawangkun - stock.adobe.com

No. 12 Providence, R.I.

Median sale price: $252,750
RHPI: 90.47
Year-over-year RHPI: 6.62%
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Aerial view of Chicago, Illinois skyline with Soldier Field.
Ron Chapple Stock/iofoto - stock.adobe.com

No. 11 Chicago, Ill.

Median sale price: $231,424
RHPI: 68.95
Year-over-year RHPI: 6.36%
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Iconic Portland, Oregon Old Town sign with an outline of Oregon and a stag
Jess Kraft/jkraft5 - Fotolia

No. 10 Portland, Ore.

Median sale price: $365,000
RHPI: 99.45
Year-over-year RHPI: 5.25%
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Buildings at Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Christian Hinkle - stock.adobe.com

No. 9 Virginia Beach, Va.

Median sale price: $227,500
RHPI: 93.81
Year-over-year RHPI: 4.94%
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Jenny Thompson - stock.adobe.com

No. 8 Raleigh, N.C.

Median sale price: $259,750
RHPI: 80.03
Year-over-year RHPI: 4.88%
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Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia
rabbit75_fot - stock.adobe.com

No. 7 Philadelphia, Pa.

Median sale price: $217,594
RHPI: 84.64
Year-over-year RHPI: 4.73%
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Hartford, CT- OCTOBER 15: The Mark Twain House and Museum on October 15, 2014. It was the home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) from 1874 to 1891 in Hartford, Connecticut.
f11photo - stock.adobe.com

No. 6 Hartford, Conn.

Median sale price: $216,100
RHPI: 72.72
Year-over-year RHPI: 3.26%
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logan - stock.adobe.com

No. 5 Memphis, Tenn.

Median sale price: $155,000
RHPI: 55.98
Year-over-year RHPI: 2.67%
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A pool stands where the terrorist attack took place in Oklahoma
Manuel Hurtado/ManuelHurtado - stock.adobe.com

No. 4 Oklahoma City, Okla.

Median sale price: $159,500
RHPI: 72.81
Year-over-year RHPI: 2.63%
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Baltimore, Maryland.
Frédéric GALISSON - stock.adobe.com

No. 3 Baltimore, Md.

Median sale price: $265,000
RHPI: 82.65
Year-over-year RHPI: 2.55%
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Washington DC, capital city of the United States. White House building. Presidential office.
Marek SLUSARCZYK/Tupungato - stock.adobe.com

No. 2 Washington, D.C.

Median sale price: $383,000
RHPI: 85.39
Year-over-year RHPI: 1.22%
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Panorama of downtown Pittsburgh skyline at twilight
Wasin Pummarin/f11photo - stock.adobe.com

No. 1 Pittsburgh, Pa.

Median sale price: $148,000
RHPI: 65.23
Year-over-year RHPI: -1.24%
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